# US 8,465,509 B2 · Apparatus and method for removing deposits from tubular structure, particularly atheroma from blood vessels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,509 B2 - Document ID: US8465509B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/885,158 - Filed: 2006-02-21 - Published: 2008-06-19 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-28 - Applicants: Avraham Shekalim - Inventors: Avraham Shekalim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465509B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/22061: {for spreading elements apart} - A61B 2017/320008: {Scrapers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Apparatus for removing deposits from a selected location on the inner surface of a tubular structure, includes an expansible device introducible into the tubular structure, and at least one scraper cord carried on the outer surface of the expansible device so as to engage the inner surface of the tubular structure upon the expansion of the expansible device, and to be movable therealong to scrape away the deposits from the inner surface of the tubular structure. Preferred embodiments are described in the form of a catheter for removing atheroma or other undesirable deposits from blood vessels, wherein the expansible device is an inflatable balloon, and a flushing device is provided to flush out the scraped away deposits. The catheter preferably includes a plurality of such scraper cords occupying different portions of the inflatable balloon or different layers thereon, and individually movable over the outer surface thereof to produce a controlled and gentle scraping action. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for removing deposits from a selected location on an inner surface of a tubular structure, comprising: an expansible device constructed such than, in its non-expanded condition, it is introducible into the tubular structure, manipulatable therein to said selected location of the tubular structure, and radially-expansible therein to engage the inner surface of the tubular structure and the deposits to be removed; and at least one elongated scraper cord carried on an outer surface of said expansible device, said scraper cord being of a flexibility and a thickness to engage the inner surface of said tubular structure upon the expansion of said expansible device, and having a circumferentially-extending intermediate length axially movable with respect to and along the outer surface of said expansible device in its expanded condition to scrape away said deposits from the inner surface of the tubular structure, wherein said intermediate length of the scraper cord includes a plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections such as to occupy a substantial portion of the outer surface of said expansible device, and wherein said scraper cord has a proximal end which, together with said intermediate length, is releasably retained on the outer surface of the expansible device such that, in the expanded condition of the expansible device, the proximal end of the scraper cord may be moved in the proximal direction to cause said intermediate length of the scraper cord to move between said outer surface of the expansible device and said inner surface of the tubular structure to thereby scrape away said deposits from said inner surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scraper cord has a distal end which is fixed to said expansible device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections extends longitudinally of the expansible device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections extends circumferentially of the expansible device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a flushing device for applying a flushing fluid between the outer surface of said expansible device and the inner surface of said tubular structure to flush out the deposits scraped away from the inner surface of the tubular structure by said scraper cord. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said expansible device is an inflatable balloon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said expansible device is configured and dimensioned for introduction into a blood vessel for removing atheroma or other substances deposited or accumulated thereon. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for removing deposits from a selected location on an inner surface of a tubular structure, comprising: an expansible device constructed such that, in its non-expanded condition, it is introducible into the tubular structure, manipulatable therein to said selected location of the tubular structure, and radially-expansible therein to engage the inner surface of the tubular structure and the deposits to be removed; and at least one elongated scraper cord carried on an outer surface of said expansible device, said scraper cord being of a flexibility and a thickness to engage the inner surface of said tubular structure upon the expansion of said expansible device, and having a circumferentially-extending intermediate length axially movable with respect to and along the outer surface of said expansible device in its expanded condition to scrape away said deposits from the inner surface of the tubular structure, wherein said intermediate length of the scraper cord includes a plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections such as to occupy a substantial portion of the outer surface of said expansible device, and wherein there are a plurality of said scraper cords carried on the outer surface of said expansible device and occupying different portions thereof. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for removing deposits from a selected location on an inner surface of a tubular structure, comprising: an expansible device constructed such that, in its non-expanded condition, it is introducible into the tubular structure, manipulatable therein to said selected location of the tubular structure, and radially-expansible therein to engage the inner surface of the tubular structure and the deposits to be removed; and at least one elongated scraper cord carried on an outer surface of said expansible device, said scraper cord being of a flexibility and a thickness to engage the inner surface of said tubular structure upon the expansion of said expansible device, and having a circumferentially-extending intermediate length axially movable with respect to and along the outer surface of said expansible device in its expanded condition to scrape away said deposits from the inner surface of the tubular structure, wherein said intermediate length of the scraper cord includes a plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections such as to occupy a substantial portion of the outer surface of said expansible device, and wherein there are a plurality of said scraper cords carried on the outer surface of said expansible device and occupying different layers thereon. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for removing deposits from a selected location on an inner surface of a tubular structure, comprising: an expansible device constructed such that, in its non-expanded condition, said expansible device is introducible into the tubular structure, manipulatable therein to said selected location of the tubular structure, and radially-expansible therein to engage the inner surface of the tubular structure and the deposits to be removed; and a scraper cord arrangement including at least one scraper cord carried on an outer surface of said expansible device, said at least one scraper cord being of a flexibility and a thickness to engage the inner surface of said tubular structure upon the expansion of said expansible device, and having a circumferentially-extending intermediate length axially movable with respect to and along the outer surface of said expansible device in its expanded condition to scrape away said deposits from the inner surface of the tubular structure, wherein said scraper cord arrangement is deployed in a pattern on the outer surface of the expansible device such that said pattern spans a majority of a circumference of the surface of the expansible device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a part of said at least one scraper cord is releasably retained on the outer surface of the expansible device such that, in the expanded condition of the expansible device, tension applied to a proximal region of said scraper cord progressively releases the scraper cord from the outer surface of the expansible device and displaces said scraper cord so as to move between said outer surface of the expansible device and the inner surface of the tubular structure for scraping away the deposits from the inner surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a deployment of said at least one scraper cord on the outer surface of the expansible device is such that, when the expansible device is in the expanded condition and the proximal region of said scraper cord is drawn in an axial direction, a resulting displacement of at least a part of said scraper cord includes a component of motion in a circumferential direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a part of said at least one scraper cord includes a plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections extends longitudinally along the expansible device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected direction-alternating sections extends circumferentially around the expansible device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said scraper cord arrangement comprises a plurality of said scraper cords deployed on distinct regions of the outer surface of said expansible device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said scraper cord arrangement comprises a plurality of said scraper cords deployed in overlapping layers on the outer surface of said expansible device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a flushing device for applying a flushing fluid between the outer surface of said expansible device and the inner surface of said tubular structure to flush out the deposits scraped away from the inner surface of the tubular structure by said scraper cord. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said expansible device is an inflatable balloon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said expansible device is configured and dimensioned for introduction into a blood vessel for removing atheroma or other substances deposited or accumulated thereon.