Abstract: An cutter apparatus for removing obstructive tissue has a distal housing having a window for invaginating tissue. An axially reciprocating and rotating cutting blade makes successive longitudinal cuts while slowly rotating across the open window. An axial guide assembly holds the cutting edge of the blade in a cutting path immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the housing. The shape and motion of the cutting blade pares off a generally uniformly thick slice of tissue from the stenosis and directs it toward the interior of the housing. A spiral parting edge opposed to the rotating cutting edge provides clean separation of the tissue slice from the stenosis. The tissue slice is received in a chamber internal to the housing and is retained by the blade and guide assembly for later removal from the patient.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a catheter body, an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the catheter body, and an inflation conduit extending from the proximal end of the catheter body to the inflatable balloon. The inflation conduit is disposed on the exterior of the catheter body, minimizing the total cross-sectional area but imparting a non-circular periphery. Catheter whip resulting from the non-circular periphery is reduced by arranging the inflation conduit in a helical pattern over at least a distal portion of the catheter body.

Abstract: A vascular catheter comprises a catheter body having a fixed guide wire secured to its distal end. The fixed guide wire includes an axial passage which is aligned with a wire lumen within the catheter body so that the vascular catheter can be introduced to the vascular system over a movable guide wire. The catheter body typically comprises flexible tube having a housing secured to its distal end. A variety of interventional devices, including both therapeutic and diagnostic devices, can be disposed within the housing. Use of both a fixed guide wire and a movable guide wire facilitates initial introduction of even large diameter vascular catheters, while allowing subsequent repositioning of the catheters after the movable guide wire has been withdrawn.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a flexible catheter body having proximal and distal ends and an elongate housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body. An interactional device is disposed on one side of the housing, and at least two spaced-apart inflatable chambers are located on the other side of the housing generally at its proximal and distal ends, respectively. The inflatable chambers may be expanded simutaneously or separately, and the spaced-apart positioning of the chambers provides for stable positioning of the housing during atherectomy procedures imaging procedures, and the like.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a blade tip at its distal end. In the specific embodiments, a blade is mounted within the blade tip and a mechanism provided for extending the blade transversely when the blade tip is located within a region of stenosis. By extending the blade and axially translating the catheter so that the blade forms an incision within the region of stenosis, improved angioplastic treatment can be achieved.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing stenosis materials from a vascular vessel is provided. The atherectomy device includes a flexible tubular member, a flexible drive means disposed within the tubular member, and a cutting assembly carried by the distal extremity of the tubular member. The cutting assembly includes a collection chamber which receives a cutting bit carried by the drive means. The cutting bit is rotated to remove materials from the stenosis and cause the removed materials to be withdrawn into the collection chamber as the bit is advanced. A second embodiment of the atherectomy device includes an anchor member coaxially mounted within a tubular cutting blade at the distal end of the catheter. The anchor member is first advanced into a region of stenosis where it becomes embedded, and the tubular blade is subsequently advanced over the anchor member to sever the stenosis.

Abstract: Atherectomy device having a generally cylindrical housing formed of a relatively rigid material. The housing has rounded distal and proximal end portions. The housing is formed with a cutout extending longitudinally of the housing on one side of the housing. An atheroma cutter is disposed to the proximal end of the housing and is used for advancing the housing into the arterial passage. A flexible drive cable extends through the flexible guide and is connected to the atheroma cutter for operation of the atheroma cutter.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter for removal of plaque buildup from the walls of a blood vessel. The atherectomy catheter includes a cutter assembly disposed at the distal end of a flexible guide tube that may be inserted into a vessel and directed to the occlusion. A proximal actuator assembly is adapted to impart both rotary and axial movement to the cutter. The cutter assembly includes a cutter having a forwardly extending annular cutting surface. A guide wire with a flexible spring tip extends forward of the cutter for guiding the cutter as it travels axially through the artery. All of the removed atheroma materials are collected within the device and a retention member carried by the guide wire and positioned in front of the cutter forms a cap to retain the collected atheroma materials. In a disclosed embodiment, the retention member is expandable, and in one of the preferred embodiments, the retention member may be expanded to engage the vessel walls to anchor the device during the cutting stroke.

Abstract: An atherectomy device having a housing at the distal end of a catheter adapted for insertion into the vascular system. The housing has a cutout in one side, and a cutter that is mounted in the housing for both axial and rotary movement with respect to the cutout. At least a portion of the housing is formed of a material which permits bending of the housing as it follows the contours of the vessel. The housing is also adapted to retain the severed atheroma materials.

Abstract: Motor drive unit for use with an atherectomy device having a flexible drive cable and a finger operated member for advancing and retracting the drive cable. The drive unit comprises a motor and a power supply mounted in a case of a size which fits comfortably in a human hand, with a power switch positioned for operation by a finger of the hand holding the case. When the motor is connected to the drive cable, the finger operated member can be operated by a finger of the hand holding the case to advance and retract the cable and the cutter connected thereto.

Abstract: Atherectomy device for removing material from an atheroma in the vascular system. A cutter is mounted in a cylindrical housing having a cutout on one side thereof at the distal end of a catheter. The catheter has a single luminal opening, and a flexible drive cable for operating the cutter passes through this opening. An inflatable balloon is positioned outside the housing opposite the cutout, and a medium for inflating the balloon is introduced through the luminal opening of the catheter.

Abstract: Perfusion catheter adapted to be positioned in at least a partially occluded blood vessel having a lesion or restriction therein comprising an elongate flexible plastic tubular member having a flow passage extending therethrough. The member has proximal and distal ends and a fitting carried by the proximal end. The member has a plurality of holes spaced apart longitudinally from the distal end and permitting the flow of liquid from and into the flow passage through the holes when the catheter is positioned in the lesion or restriction so that at least some of the holes are on one side of the lesion or restriction and other holes are on the other side of the lesion or restriction.

Abstract: Device facilitating the exchange of dilatation catheters during an angioplasty procedure by the use of an exchange wire in which the exchange wire extends through the dilatation catheter into a predetermined position in a vessel of a patient. The device includes first friction rollers engaging the dilatation catheter for advancing or retracting the dilatation catheter and second friction rollers engaging the exchange wire for advancing or retracting the exchange wire. A rotatable member is provided for causing operation of said first and second friction rollers in substantial synchronism and causing movement of the dilatation catheter in one direction and the movement of the exchange wire in an opposite direction so that the distal extremity of the exchange wire remains in a predetermined position in the vessel of the patient during the time that a dilatation catheter is being inserted or being removed from the vessel of the patient.

Abstract: An insertion guide for a balloon catheter. The insertion guide includes an outer guide tube that defines a passage having an inside diameter sufficient to receive the balloon catheter therethrough. Telescopically receivable within the guide tube is an introducer which defines a lumen centrally thereof. A guide wire is telescoped within the lumen. The guide tube is introduced into a blood vessel by sequentially advancing the guide wire, the introducer and the tube until the distal extremity of the tube is positioned adjacent a stenosis after which the introducer and guide wire are removed. The guide tube has a corrugated wall portion which retains the passage therein in an open condition even when the guide tube assumes an arcuate configuration in traversing an intersection between two blood vessels.

Abstract: Guiding catheter assembly having a first tubular member formed of a material which has a low coefficient of friction and a second tubular member encasing said first tubular member so that the first tubular member fits tightly within said second tubular member. The second tubular member is formed of an irradiated modified polyolefin which is flexible but which has a greater rigidity than the said first tubular member so as to provide the guiding catheter assembly with the desired rigidity to permit manuevering of the same. The combined first and second tubular members have proximal and distal ends with the distal ends having a bend therein permitting engagement in a vascular structure. A fitting is mounted on the proximal ends through which a dilating catheter assembly can be inserted into the guiding catheter assembly.Dilating catheter assembly having first and second tubular members formed of a flexible irradiated modified polyolefin. The first tubular member is encased within said second tubular member.

Abstract: A combination guiding catheter assembly and a dilating catheter assembly. The guiding catheter assembly includes a first flexible tubular member formed of a material which has a low coefficient of friction and a second flexible tubular member encasing said first tubular member so that the first tubular member fits tightly in the second tubular member. The combined first and second tubular members have proximal and distal ends with a fitting mounted on the proximal end. The dilating catheter assembly includes a flexible tubular member. The tubular member of the dilating catheter assembly having proximal and distal ends and an inflatable annular portion formed integral with the tubular member of the dilating catheter assembly near the distal end thereof. A fitting is mounted on the proximal end of the tubular member of the dilating catheter assembly. The dilating catheter assembly is disposed within the guiding catheter assembly.

Abstract: Atherectomy device for removing material from an atheroma in the vascular system. A cutter is mounted in a cylindrical housing having a cutout on one side thereof at the distal end of a catheter. The catheter has a single luminal opening, and a flexible drive cable for operating the cutter passes through this opening. An inflatable balloon is positioned outside the housing opposite the cutout, and a medium for inflating the balloon is introduced through luminal opening of the catheter.