Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Abstract: Intravascular catheters that include a flexible catheter body, a distal housing secured to the catheter body, a work element disposed within the housing and exposed to the external environment through a side window, and a guiding structure for the work element, are disclosed. An axial path through the housing is defined by the guiding structure. Embodiments of the guiding structure include a slot or channel formed in the housing, a coaxial tube attached to the housing, a radially offset ribbon attached to the housing, or the external surface of the housing itself. The work element, such as a rotatable cutting blade in an atherectomy catheter, is coupled to the guiding structure such that the work element is retained within the housing during insertion and operation of the catheter and even when the housing is bent or distorted as a result of bends in the blood vessel.

Abstract: An improved atherectomy catheter and methods of making and using a catheter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a housing shaft having a torsionally-reinforced outer layer concentrically disposed over a polymeric inner layer, with an inflation tube disposed concentrically over the housing shaft to define an annular inflation lumen. A housing is attached to the distal end of the housing shaft, and may contain interventional means such as a cutting blade. The balloon for urging the housing against a vessel wall, such as a balloon, is attached to the housing opposite the interventional means and is in communication with the inflation lumen. A drive shaft may be rotatably disposed through a longitudinal lumen in the housing shaft, the drive shaft being coupled at its distal end to the interventional balloon.

Abstract: Intravascular catheters that include a flexible catheter body, a distal housing secured to the catheter body, a work element disposed within the housing and exposed to the external environment through a side window, and a guiding structure for the work element, are disclosed. An axial path through the housing is defined by the guiding structure. Embodiments of the guiding structure include a slot or channel formed in the housing, a coaxial tube attached to the housing, a radially offset ribbon attached to the housing, or the external surface of the housing itself. The work element, such as a rotatable cutting blade in an atherectomy catheter, is coupled to the guiding structure such that the work element is retained within the housing during insertion and operation of the catheter and even when the housing is bent or distorted as a result of bends in the blood vessel.

Abstract: An improved atherectomy catheter and methods of making and using a catheter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a housing shaft having a torsionally-reinforced outer layer concentrically disposed over a polymeric inner layer, with an inflation tube disposed concentrically over the housing shaft to define an annular inflation lumen. A housing is attached to the distal end of the housing shaft, and may contain an interventional device such as a cutting blade. Apparatus for urging the housing against a vessel wall, such as a balloon, is attached to the housing opposite the an interventional device and is in communication with the inflation lumen. A drive shaft may be rotatably disposed through a longitudinal lumen in the housing shaft, the drive shaft being coupled at its distal end to the interventional device.