Abstract: An inflatable angioplasty balloon is formed in an unstressed configuration for inflation into an expanded configuration and deflation into a collapsed configuration. The balloon has a body portion and two hollow end portions, with the end portions being attached to opposite ends of the body portion.In the balloon's unstressed configuration, the body portion has three flat folding regions extending the length of the body portion. Successive folding regions are separated from each other by curved reinforcing regions. The end portions are configured and oriented to guide the folding regions of the balloon into a pleated, collapsed configuration when the interior of the balloon is evacuated.

Abstract: An angioplasty device for dilating the lumen of a human blood vessel has a balloon and a tubular guide wire bonded to one end of the balloon. The guide wire is in fluid communication with the balloon. A guide extension is bonded to the opposite end of the balloon from the guide wire. An elongated spring member is positioned within the balloon, and is bonded at one end of the spring to the guide wire and at the opposite end of the spring to the guide extension to interconnect the wire and the extension. The spring member is attached between the wire and the extension in compression to urge the balloon into a collapsed configuration when the balloon is not inflated with fluid. The guide wire is strengthened by bonding a helical structural member to the outer wall of the guide wire.

Abstract: An over-the-wire atherectomy cutter includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve which is coaxially attached at its proximal end to a hollow rotatable catheter. The periphery of the distal end of the sleeve is sharpened.A hollow, substantially cylindrical body is coaxially positioned within the sleeve in an interference fit. A frustum-shaped portion is formed on the distal end of the body and tapers inwardly toward a hollow cylindrical distal tip. The frustum-shaped portion has two openings which extend the axial length of the frustum-shaped portion, to create a pair of straight blades that connect the body to the tip. The straight blades are contiguous to the sharpened distal end of the sleeve to establish a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate cutting edges that are positioned on the distal end of sleeve.

Abstract: A reinforced tubing has an inner continuous hollow metallic tube. To strengthen the tube, a metallic helical structural member is bonded in tension by nickel or cobalt electroplating to the outside wall of the tube. Thus, a surrounding layer of electroplated material (i.e. nickel or cobalt) covers the tube and the structural member to bond the structural member to the tube. The individual coils of the helical structural member are spaced apart, so that the edges of successive coils do not touch or overlap. Importantly, the angular pitch between successive coils is in the range 20.degree.-60.degree., the pitch being variable throughout the length of the tubing.For applications wherein the tubing is to be used as a rigid platform, a longitudinal stiffening member may be bonded to the inside of the tube.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a guide wire which can be inserted into an artery of a patient to a region of occlusion, a torque tube having a cutter device affixed to its distal end which is insertable into the artery over the guide wire, and a protective support sheath surrounding the guide wire and the torque tube. A retraction device controllably retracts the support sheath so as to allow the cutter on the distal end of the torque tube to extend progressively greater distances beyond the distal end of the support sheath. The system also includes means for rotating the torque tube, thereby simultaneously rotating the cutter, and vacuum means connected to the torque tube for extracting dislodged cuttings from the patient's bloodstream. The guide wire is preferably provided with an abutment on its distal end which both mechanically limits the distance the cutter can advance into the patient's body and assists in retrieving the cutter from the patient's body following the atherectomy operation.

Abstract: A rotatable atherectomy cutter for removing obstructive tissue from a body vessel includes a hollow cylindrical base having an outer wall, a hollow cylindrical guide tip coaxially distanced from the base for slidably receiving a guide wire and a pair of dismetrically opposed blades each having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of each blade is connected to the guide tip and the proximal end connected to the base for alternately cutting the tissue with a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge longer than the first cutting edge. The proximal end of each blade is connected to an ovoid portion formed in the base for allowing the second cutting edge of the blade to extend beyond the outer diameter of the cylindrical base to cut a diameter of tissue larger than the diameter of the base. The base includes a straight wall portion connecting the pair of blades to establish the first cutting edge on each of the blades.

Abstract: An atherectomy probe for incrementally advancing a torque tube with a rotating cutter through an artery to remove obstructive tissue from the lumen of the artery comprises a fixed distal support and a moveable proximal support for slideably restraining the torque tube. The torque tube is rotated about a longitudinal axis by a motor which is slideably mounted inside a housing of a drive unit. A rod extending substantially parallel to the torque tube interconnects the distal support and the motor. The rod selectively secures the torque tube from longitudinally sliding with respect to the distal support. Adjacent to the rod is an elongated advancement tape having juxtaposed dual layers attached between the distal support and the proximal support. In its operation, a tape divider operatively engages with the advancement tape for aligning the tape.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for cutting obstructive tissue from the lumen of a body vessel comprises a rotatable cutter having a blade. A hollow, generally cylindrical housing defines a central longitudinal axis and has a side opening. The cutter is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. During rotation of the cutter, the blade cyclically projects from the side opening to cut obstructive tissue from the lumen.

Abstract: An atherectomy cutting device for removing obstructive tissue from the lumen of a body vessel comprises a guide wire positionable in the lumen of the vessel, and a rotatable cutter supported on an eccentric wire. The eccentric wire has a distal portion extension establishing a substantially right angle with the eccentric wire and having a ring to permit sliding movement of the eccentric wire and cutter along the guide wire. The extension and eccentric wire also permit manipulative movement of the rotatable cutter in an arc around the guide wire. There is included a dual lumen sheath having a first lumen for supporting the guide wire and a second lumen for supporting the eccentric wire carrying the rotatable cutter.Also included is a method for removing obstructive tissue which involves manipulating the eccentric wire about the guide wire to move the cutter in an arc about the guide wire and thus increase the portion of obstructive tissue contacted by the cutter.

Abstract: A cutter penetrates at its forward end into, and excises, obstructive tissue in a lumen in a living being by providing two spaced external segments of a conical generally hollow portion with cutting surfaces at their edges. The cutter may have a forward portion of restricted dimensions to facilitate the penetration of the cutter into the obstructive tissue. A progressively expanding portion such as a truncated cone extends rearwardly from the portion of restricted dimensions. In this way, the cutter expands the area of excision of the obstructive tissue from the lumen wall at progressive positions rearwardly from the forward end. The obstructive tissue in the lumen at the progressively expanding positions may be excised at the positions of penetration of the obstructive tissue by rotating the cutter manually or by a motor. The cutter may then be moved forwardly to penetrate the obstructive tissue through an additional distance in the lumen.

Abstract: A cutter penetrates at its forward end into, and excises, obstructive tissue in a lumen in a living being by providing two spaced external segments of a conical generally hollow portion with cutting surfaces at their edges. The cutter may have a forward portion of restricted dimensions to facilitate the penetration of the cutter into the obstructive tissue. A progressively expanding portion such as a truncated cone extends rearwardly from the portion of restricted dimensions. In this way, the cutter expands the area of excision of the obstructive tissue from the lumen wall at progressive positions rearwardly from the forward end. The obstructive tissue in the lumen at the progressively expanding positions may be excised at the positions of penetration of the obstructive tissue by rotating the cutter manually or by a motor. The cutter may then be moved forwardly to penetrate the obstructive tissue through an additional distance in the lumen.

Abstract: A cutter penetrates at its forward end into, and excises, obstructive tissue in a lumen in a living being by providing two spaced external segments of a conical generally hollow portion with cutting surfaces at their edges. The cutter may have a forward portion of restricted dimensions to facilitate the penetration of the cutter into the obstructive tissue. A progressively expanding portion such as a truncated cone extends rearwardly from the portion of restricted dimensions. In this way, the cutter expands the area of excision of the obstructive tissue from the lumen wall at progressive positions rearwardly from the forward end. The obstructive tissue in the lumen at the progressively expanding positions may be excised at the positions of penetration of the obstructive tissue by rotating the cutter manually or by a motor. The cutter may then be moved forwardly to penetrate the obstructive tissue through an additional distance in the lumen.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for obtaining a controlled flow of fluid from a source to a patient. The apparatus includes a plunger movable vertically in a chamber and made from resilient material and having a pair of vertically spaced lands. The chamber defines a recess with the lands and the plunger in the space between the lands. Lubricating fluid is disposed in the recess. Fluid such as intravenous fluid is introduced into the chamber in one reciprocal movement of the plunger and is withdrawn from the chamber in the other reciprocal movement of the plunger. A porous washer filled with lubricating fluid is disposed in contiguous relationship to a particular one of the lands for providing an auxiliary reservoir of the lubricating fluid. Such washer may be contiguous to the lower one of the two (2) lands.

Abstract: An improved device for filtering, isolating, containing, and storing fluid specimens which are to be analyzed with an automatic chemical analyzer. The device includes a filter means for removing particulates, a membrane valve for isolating the filtrate, a releasable piston ring which permits telescoping of the assembly, and a plunger tube which serves as a simple and/or storage vessel.