Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing obstruction material from a stent which is located in a vessel in a body. The process generally involves threading a flexible casing into the material, and optionally, passing a tubular blade over the material to separate the material from the stent, and then withdrawing the flexible casing and the material out of the stent.

Abstract: A system for removing an obstruction, in sections, from within a vessel, having a flexible guide wire assembly which is insertable into the vessel and a flexible rotary catheter which is slidable over it, the flexible rotary catheter is equipped with a tubular blade at its distal end for cutting and separating the obstruction material from an inner wall of the vessel to be ingested by the system.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for opening an obstructed vessel comprising a helically shaped flexible guide-wire assembly insertable into the vessel having a cross section which narrows with increasing radial distance from the center of the helical portion, and, a flexible catheter slidable over the flexible guide-wire having a blade at its distal end.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing plaque from within a patient's vessel having a flexible guide wire defining a void for holding plaque during the atherectomy process and for accurately guiding a flexible catheter in the vessel. Coupling means at the proximal end of the flexible catheter for coupling it to drive means. The insertion of the guidewire may be assisted by suspending a body part in a decompression chamber to dilate the vessel.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing an obstruction material from within a patient's vessel having a flexible guide wire defining a void for holding obstruction material during the atherectomy process and for accurately guiding a flexible catheter in the vessel. Coupling means at the proximal end of the flexible catheter for coupling it to drive means.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible rotary catheter for coring and ingesting obstruction material, insertable into the vessel over the flexible guide-wire, the flexible rotary catheter having coring means at its distal end and coupling means for connecting it to a power source, at its proximal end, a sleeve in which the flexible rotary catheter is slidably disposed, the sleeve having a window near its open distal end.

Abstract: An atherectomy system insertable into a human blood vessel over a flexible guide-wire for remotely cutting and removing an obstruction therein, having a diametrical stabilized torque transmitting flexible rotary-catheter equipped with a rotary coring means at its distal end and a motor connected to its proximal end.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for cutting an obstruction in a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible rotary-catheter being rotatably disposed and insertable into the vessel, over the flexible guide-wire, a cutting means for cutting the obstruction, at a distal end of the flexible rotaty-catheter, coupling means at the proximal end of the flexible rotary-catheter for engaging a drive means and at least one torque limiting clutch interposed between the drive means and the cutting means, limiting the torque transmitted distally.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing an obstruction material from within a patient's vessel having a flexible guide-wire defining voids for containing obstruction material and defining a diametrical envelope, a flexible rotary-catheter slidable and rotatable over the diametrical envelope having a rotary coring means at its distal end, a continuous passage defined around the flexible guide-wire by the flexible rotary-catheter for ingesting the cored obstruction material, and coupling means at the proximal end of the flexible rotary-catheter for coupling to rotating means.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for cutting, ingesting and removing an obstruction from within a patient's artery, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the artery, a flexible rotary-catheter rotatably disposed and slidable over the flexible guide-wire, a blade forming a distal end of the flexible rotary-catheter having teeth on its periphery which are bent inward, a continuous passage for ingesting the cut obstruction material between the flexible rotary-catheter and the flexible guide-wire, means at the proximal end of the flexible rotary-catheter for rotating it and positive displacement pump means connected to the continuous passage to pull the cut obstruction material proximally.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible catheter for coring and ingesting obstruction material, insertable into the vessel over the flexible guide-wire, the flexible catheter having a coring device at its distal end and coupling device for connecting it to a power source, at its proximal end, a sleeve in which the flexible catheter is slidably disposed, the sleeve having an elongated tongue extending from its distal end, the tongue defining inside the vessel an eccentrically biased trajectory for the coring device to move along.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible rotary-catheter being rotatably disposed and insertable into the vessel over the flexible guide-wire, having a rotary coring device, at its distal end for making a peripheral cut in an obstruction located in front of it, relative motion between the flexible rotary-catheter and the flexible guide-wire is used to mechanically enable the ingested obstruction material to proximally move into the flexible rotary-catheter.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible rotary catheter being rotatably disposed and insertable into the vessel over the flexible guide-wire, having a rotary coring device at its distal end for making a ciruclar cut in an obstruction located in front of the rotary coring device, relative motion between the inner-wall and the flexible guide-wire mechanically enabling the ingested obstruction material into the catheter.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for cutting, ingesting and removing an obstruction from within a patient's artery, having a flexible guide-wire insertable into the artery, a flexible rotary catheter being rotatably disposed and insertable into the artery over the flexible guide-wire, a blade at a distal end of the flexible rotary catheter having teeth on its periphery which are rounded and bent toward the center of the blade to ease insertion through the arteries and to reduce the probability of cutting the arterial wall during the insertion and cutting operation the blade having an outer wall which slidingly and rotatably bears against the arterial wall spreading the contact force on a relatively large area to minimize damage to the artery, a continuous passage defined between the rotating flexible rotary catheter and the flexible guide-wire, for ingesting the cut obstruction material.

Abstract: A rotary catheter system insertable into a patient's artery over a non rotating auger shaped guide-wire for remotely cutting and removing an obstruction therein, having a flexible catheter equipped with a tubular-blade at its front end and a motor connected to its other end.