Patents Assigned to Avinger
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Patent number: 10130386Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for identifying elastic lamina during interventional procedures, such as atherectomy. Such identification can be used to avoid trauma to the external elastic lamina during the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: John B. Simpson, Xuanmin He, Ryan Radjabi, Richard R. Newhauser
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Patent number: 10052125Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Michael H. Rosenthal, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall, John B. Simpson, John F. Black
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Publication number: 20180146978Abstract: An occlusion crossing device includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, an optical fiber, and a handle attached to the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The inner shaft extends within the outer shaft. The inner shaft includes a drill tip at a distal end thereof. The optical fiber extends within the inner shaft substantially along a central axis of the inner shaft. The distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the drill tip. The handle is configured to rotate the inner shaft and drill tip at speeds of greater than 500 rpm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2015Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: Himanshu N. PATEL, John B. SIMPSON, Ryan RADJABI
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Patent number: 9949754Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate catheter shaft, a rotatable tip configured to rotate relative to the elongate catheter shaft, a drive shaft, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip includes a housing coupled with the elongate catheter shaft and cutting wedges extendable from the housing. The drive shaft has a central lumen extending therethrough and extends within the elongate catheter shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the wedges and is configured to rotate the rotatable tip. The OCT sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. The elongate catheter shaft is configured to move axially over the drive shaft to extend and retract the wedges from the housing while maintaining a fixed position of the imaging sensor relative to the cutting wedges.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: Richard R. Newhauser, Mark W. Askew
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Patent number: 9918734Abstract: A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter's rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical grooves or slots, and the cutting head contains protruding blades or projections that fit into these helical grooves or slots. Application of torque to an inner catheter or wire attached to the cutting head applies spin to the cutting head, and the force of the sheath's helical grooves or slots against the cutting head's protruding blades or projections advances the cutting head outward from the protective sheath. Once extended, the cutting head may now rotate freely. The device may use a guidewire to direct the cutting head to the desired position.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson
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Publication number: 20180042639Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate catheter shaft, a rotatable tip configured to rotate relative to the elongate catheter shaft, a drive shaft, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip includes a housing coupled with the elongate catheter shaft and cutting wedges extendable from the housing. The drive shaft has a central lumen extending therethrough and extends within the elongate catheter shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the wedges and is configured to rotate the rotatable tip. The OCT sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. The elongate catheter shaft is configured to move axially over the drive shaft to extend and retract the wedges from the housing while maintaining a fixed position of the imaging sensor relative to the cutting wedges.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: Richard R. Newhauser, Mark W. Askew
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Patent number: 9854979Abstract: An imaging device includes a hollow flexible shaft having a central longitudinal axis and an imaging window therein. An optical fiber extends within the hollow flexible shaft substantially along the central axis. A distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the hollow flexible shaft and aligned with the imaging window so as to transfer an optical coherence tomography signal through the imaging window. A handle is attached to the hollow flexible shaft configured rotate the hollow flexible shaft at speeds of greater than 1,000 rpm.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Peter H. Smith, Manish Kankaria, Priyanshu Gupta, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall
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Patent number: 9788790Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of both the catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: John F. Black, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Evangeline Lumabas, Michael H. Rosenthal, John B. Simpson
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Patent number: 9642646Abstract: A catheter for positioning a guidewire across an occluded portion of a vessel includes an elongate catheter body, an integrated rotatable distal tip, a proximal handle region, and a catheter lumen extending through the elongate catheter body. The elongate body has a distal region configured to be bent to a set angle. The integrated rotatable distal tip includes one or more channeled flutes extending around the distal tip that are configured to be rotated in a first direction to dissect tissue and a second direction for bluntly contacting tissue. A proximal handle region includes a control for rotating the distal tip in either the first or second directions. The catheter lumen is configured to pass a guidewire.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson
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Patent number: 9592075Abstract: Atherectomy catheters and methods of using them are described herein. In particular, described herein are optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheters that may include a distal tip that can be deflected away from the long axis of the device using a multi-channel bushing. The bushing may include at a hinge point that is offset (e.g., located on a side of the elongate body near the distal end of the elongate body) and a rotatable cutter near an imaging assembly that can be driven against the wall with a high mechanical advantage.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: John B. Simpson, Himanshu N. Patel, Anthony J. Fernandez, Richard R. Newhauser
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Patent number: 9572492Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate body, a central lumen extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to the distal end, a rotatable tip at the distal end of the elongate body, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip is configured to rotate relative to the elongate body. The OCT imaging sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. A distal end of the elongate body includes one or more markers configured to occlude the OCT imaging sensor as it rotates. A fixed jog in the elongate body proximal to the distal end of the catheter positions the distal end of the catheter at an angle relative to the region of the catheter proximal to the fixed jog and is aligned with the one or more markers on the elongate body.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: John B. Simpson, Himanshu N. Patel, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Priyanshu Gupta, Maegan K. Spencer, Christopher B. White, Dennis W. Jackson, John F. Black
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Patent number: 9557156Abstract: A system for optical coherence tomography includes a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, and a graded index fiber attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the graded index fiber are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference interface at a distal end of the graded index fiber and from a target.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventor: Manish Kankaria
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Patent number: 9498600Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Michael H. Rosenthal, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall, John B. Simpson, John F. Black
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Patent number: 9498247Abstract: Atherectomy catheter devices having a C-shaped balloon opposite a cutting window out of which a rotating cutter may extend and a proximal annular balloon. The C-shaped first balloon may be used to drive the cutter against a vessel and to deploy the cutter by assisting in deflecting a nosecone (distal tip) to expose the distal-facing cutting edge of the cutter. The proximal annular balloon may be used to occlude blood flow. The device may pulled, pushed or rotated in a vessel with the balloons inflated or deflated.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson, Wendy Ngo Lam
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Patent number: 9345398Abstract: A drive assembly for driving an imaging catheter has a rotatable fiber and a rotatable drive shaft. The drive assembly includes a fiber optic rotating junction and a motor configured to rotate the rotatable portion of the fiber optic rotating junction. In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the fiber optic rotating junction and a processor configured to obtain the detected rotational position and stop the motor only when the fiber optic rotating junction is in a predetermined rotational position. In some embodiments, the motor includes a hollow shaft through which at least a portion of the fiber optic rotating junction extends.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Brian Y. Tachibana, Charles W. McNall, Michael Zung, Peter Howard Smith, Brian Chiu, Douglas Joseph Scott Bourne, Priyanshu Gupta
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Patent number: 9345406Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing and identifying characteristic (“crescent shaped”) regions indicative of an atherectomy plaque within a vessel, and systems and devices adapted to take advantage of this characteristic region.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, John B. Simpson, Stephen C. Davies
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Patent number: 9345510Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include longitudinally displaceable drive shafts that drive actuation of one or more cutters at the distal end of the catheter. The catheters described herein may include one or more imaging sensors for imaging before, during or after cutting tissue. In some variations the imaging sensor may be rotated around the perimeter of the catheter independently of the rotation of the cutter. Also describe herein are imaging catheters that may be used without cutters.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson, Charles W. McNall, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael Zung, Priyanshu Gupta
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Publication number: 20150272615Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate catheter shaft, a rotatable tip configured to rotate relative to the elongate catheter shaft, a drive shaft, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip includes a housing coupled with the elongate catheter shaft and cutting wedges extendable from the housing. The drive shaft has a central lumen extending therethrough and extends within the elongate catheter shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the wedges and is configured to rotate the rotatable tip. The OCT sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. The elongate catheter shaft is configured to move axially over the drive shaft to extend and retract the wedges from the housing while maintaining a fixed position of the imaging sensor relative to the cutting wedges.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: Richard R. Newhauser, Mark W. Askew
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Patent number: 9125562Abstract: Catheter-based Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) systems utilizing an optical fiber that is positioned off-axis of the central longitudinal axis of the catheter have many advantage over catheter-based OCT systems, particularly those having centrally-positioned optical fibers or fibers that rotate independently of the elongate body of the catheter. An OCT system having an off-axis optical fiber for visualizing the inside of a body lumen may be rotated with the body of the elongate catheter, relative to a handle portion. The handle may include a fiber management pathway for the optical fiber that permits the off-axis optical fiber to rotate with the catheter body relative to the handle. The system may also include optical processing elements adapted to prepare and process the OCT image collected by the off-axis catheter systems described herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Avinger, Inc.Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Christopher B. White, Charles W. McNall, Dennis W. Jackson, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Benjamin Ngo, Evangeline Lumabas, Kin F. Chan, John F. Black, Michael H. Rosenthal, John B. Simpson
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Publication number: 20150141816Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body, an elongate deflectable distal tip coupled to the catheter body at a hinge point, a rotatable cutter near the distal end of the catheter body, and a drive shaft extending within the catheter body and configured to rotate the cutter. The atherectomy catheter further includes an optical fiber extending through the drive shaft substantially on-axis with the catheter body and attached to the cutter. The optical fiber is configured to rotate with the drive shaft. The atherectomy catheter further includes a wedge configured to deflect the distal tip away from the catheter body at the hinge point upon axial movement of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: AVINGER, INC.Inventors: Priyanshu Gupta, Michael Zung, Charles W. Mcnall, Himanshu N. Patel, Christina Van