Patents Assigned to Devices for Vascular Intervention
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Patent number: 5549601Abstract: A system for delivering a probe into a body part to perform a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure therein which includes an elongated probe device which is disposed within a protective sheath and which has a rotary drive unit connected to its proximal extremity to rotate the probe about its longitudinal axis, preferably at a rate above 50 rpms while applying axial pressure thereto to cause the distal end of the probe to penetrate through the patient's tissue to a desired location in the body part where the procedure is to occur. In a presently preferred embodiment, the probe is an optical fiber which is delivered into a male patient's prostate gland through the patient's prostatic urethral wall. The optical fiber is optically connected to a source for laser energy (815 nm) which is emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber to ablate prostatic tissue surrounding the distal end.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1994Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: John McIntyre, Peter S. Brown, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 5527325Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Device for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Conley, Mark E. Deem, Kent D. Dell, Bernard H. Andreas
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Patent number: 5514115Abstract: An elongated flexible housing for an atherectomy or other intracorporeal catheter which is formed of a shape memory alloy such as an alloy formed predominantly of NiTi intermetallic compound. The housing preferably has an inner chamber with a tissue cutter or other diagnostic or therapeutic system provided within the chamber to sever stenotic material which is urged into the chamber through a opening or window in the housing. In one embodiment the housing has at least one section which is relatively flexible with adjacent sections which are relatively stiff to provide an increase in the overall flexibility of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1993Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: Device for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: John J. Frantzen, Sepehr Fariabi
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Patent number: 5507795Abstract: Improved atherectomy catheters and methods of use are disclosed. The catheter includes a flexible body with a longitudinal passage therethrough. A housing is mounted at the distal end, with an elongated aperture formed in a lateral side. A drive cable is disposed in the passage of the catheter body, and a working element is disposed in the housing, attached to the distal end of the drive cable. Passages and openings are provided for flowing blood into the housing and for flowing blood from a proximal to a distal side of the cutting blade. An impeller can be provided proximal to the cutting blade to impel blood into the housing and past the blade. Blood flows through the housing and past the blade so as to perfuse tissue downstream from the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Andrew L. Chiang, Jeffrey W. Krier, Ron R. Hundertmark, Robert T. Chang, Grace Y. Schulz
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Patent number: 5507760Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cutter capable of removing soft and hard tissue when used with an atherectomy catheter of the type having a cutter housing attached to the distal end of a catheter having a torque cable. A circular cutting blade is disposed within the housing and is secured to the distal end of a rotatable torque cable. An elongated aperture formed along one side of the hosing allows the intrusion of stenotic material which may then be severed by rotating and axially translating the cutting blade. The cutting blade may be made from a cemented tungsten carbide compound of 90 percent tungsten carbide (WC) and 10 percent cobalt (Co) which is heated, injection molded and sintered to produce a hard, durable cutting edge. The cutting edge is coated with titanium carbonitride using a physical vapor deposition process to further increase durability. Cutting edge hardness is further increased by application of an ion implantation of nitrogen using an ion-beam assisted deposition process.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1993Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Wynne, David W. Snow, Larry B. Rogers, Ferolyn Powell, Jeffrey W. Krier, Ron Hundertmark, Earl R. Hill, III, Randolph E. Campbell
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Patent number: 5499632Abstract: Disclosed herein is a guide wire migration controller device. The device includes a housing, a gripper insertable in the housing and a locking member for keeping the gripper within the housing. The gripper grips a guide wire operated by a motor drive unit. The gripper limits the migrational movement of the guide wire by gripping the guide wire and limiting the movement to the amount of tolerance between the gripper and the housing and locking member. The gripper rotates freely within the housing depending upon the rotational movement of the catheter torque cable wire. In a preferred embodiment the migrational movement of the guide wire along its longitudinal axis is translated into slidable movement of the controller relative to the motor drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1994Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Devices for Vascular InterventionInventors: E. Richard Hill, III, Glenn Davis, Brian Farley
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Patent number: 5485042Abstract: The invention provides a motor drive unit for use in conjunction with an atherectomy device which limits the torque exerted on a drive cable for rotating a cutting blade in the device. In a preferred embodiment, a motor drive unit includes a motor having a shaft coupled to the drive cable for rotating the cutting blade, a power supply coupled to the motor and a switch for selectively connecting the power supply to the motor. A torque control circuit connected to the power supply and the motor controls the torque exerted by the motor when the switch is closed, whereby the current to the motor is continuously increased from zero to a start-up level, the start-up level being the minimum current sufficient to turn the cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1994Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventor: Phillip C. Burke
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Patent number: 5470415Abstract: 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 simultaneously 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. The balloon is conveniently connected to the housing by an integral flange structure which is secured through an inflation aperture on the housing side. The balloon may be inflated through an annular inflation which is defined by a separate isolation tube disposed in the central lumen of the catheter body.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1993Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Perkins, Gerri L. Chatelain
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Patent number: 5429136Abstract: An atherectomy catheter having ultrasound imaging capability provided by an acoustic transducer disposed within a catheter housing which includes a circular cutting edge for removal of stenotic tissue. Risk of induced emboli is reduced by arrangements of transducer and cutter maneuvering members which permit the cutting edge to remain shielded by the housing during catheter positioning and scanning. Both single and array transducers are employed in a variety of configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Charles Milo, Gerald Hansen, Fred H. Co
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Patent number: 5427107Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter apparatus which supports high resolution imaging of the interior of a biological conduit. The apparatus includes an imaging atherectomy catheter of the type having a cutter housing attached to the distal end of a catheter. A tissue cutting member and an ultrasonic imaging transducer are disposed within the housing and are secured to the distal end of a rotatable torque cable. An elongated aperture formed along one side of the housing allows ultrasonic imaging and the intrusion of stenotic material which is removed by axially rotating and translating the cutting member. A miniature rotary encoder is slidably coupled to the end of the torque cable within the housing for precisely determining the rotational orientation of the ultrasonic imaging transducer with respect to the elongated aperture. The rotary encoder is read optically via a fiber optical cable which extends through the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Devices For Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Charles Milo, Gerald L. Hansen
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Patent number: 5415634Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1992Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: Devices For Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Brian Glynn, John B. Simpson, Michael Evans
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Patent number: 5403334Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a cylindrical housing at its distal end. The cylindrical housing includes an elongate cutting aperture on one side thereof and a mechanism for severing atheroma which enters within the opening. In a first embodiment, the cutting mechanism comprises a circular cutting blade which is advanced over an elongate guide member which defines a path for the blade. Use of the guide means helps assure that the cutting blade will not be lost from the housing during use. In a second embodiment, a rotatable helical cutting blade is mounted within the housing. In that particular embodiment, the helical cutting blade can serve as the guide member for the circular cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1993Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Michael Evans, Richard L. Mueller
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Patent number: 5372602Abstract: The invention provides a motor drive unit for use in conjunction with an atherectomy device which limits the torque exerted on a drive cable for rotating a cutting blade in the device. In a preferred embodiment, a motor drive unit includes a motor having a shaft coupled to the drive cable for rotating the cutting blade, a power supply coupled to the motor and a switch for selectively connecting the power supply to the motor. A torque control circuit connected to the power supply and the motor controls the torque exerted by the motor when the switch is closed, whereby the current to the motor is continuously increased from zero to a start-up level, the start-up level being the minimum current sufficient to turn the cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1992Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Device for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventor: Phillip C. Burke
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Patent number: 5336237Abstract: A method and system for removing an organ or piece of tissue severed from its supporting tissue within a patient's body cavity, such as the abdominal cavity, which includes an elongated expandable tubular member with a sealed interior. In one preferred embodiment for morcellation, means are provided within the sealed interior to tear or cut off tissue fragments from the organ or tissue which are small enough to pass out of the patient's body cavity through an inner lumen of an exit trocar sheath disposed within the patient and in communication with the body cavity. The organ or piece of tissue is placed within an inner lumen defined by the sealed interior through an opening provided in a leading portion of the elongated expandable tubular member. The organ or piece of tissue is fragmented into smaller pieces which are withdrawn from the patient's body cavity by the passage of the morcellation system through the inner lumen of the exit trocar sheath.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1993Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Albert K. Chin, John McIntyre, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 5318032Abstract: A vascular guiding catheter comprises an inner tubular member having a torque transmitting member formed over a major portion thereof and a soft polymeric tip formed at the distal end thereof. The torque transmitting member provides the characteristics of torsional stiffness and axial flexibility which are necessary to be able to introduce the catheter to the vascular system. The soft polymeric tip reduces the likelihood that the catheter can injure the blood vessel and provides a convenient location for the inclusion of perfusion ports. A reinforcement layer is provided over a transition region between the termination of the torque transmitting member and the soft distal tip. Optionally, reinforcement layers may be provided elsewhere along the length of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1992Date of Patent: June 7, 1994Assignee: Devices for Vascular InterventionInventors: Michael T. Lonsbury, Richard S. Jaraczewski, Fred H. Co
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Patent number: 5312425Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a cylindrical housing at its distal end. The cylindrical housing includes an elongate cutting aperture on one side thereof and a mechanism for severing atheroma which enters within the opening. In a first embodiment, the cutting mechanism comprises a circular cutting blade which is advanced over an elongate guide member which defines a path for the blade. Use of the guide means helps assure that the cutting blade will not be lost from the housing during use. In a second embodiment, a rotatable helical cutting blade is mounted within the housing. In that particular embodiment, the helical cutting blade can serve as the guide member for the circular cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1993Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Michael Evans, Richard L. Mueller
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Patent number: 5269764Abstract: A hemostatic sealing assembly comprises a valve housing and a two-stage hemostatic gasket. The gasket is disposed in an enlarged recess within a shell component of the housing and held in place by a terminal plug. The front and rear faces of the gasket are conically tapered as are the mating surfaces and the housing shell and terminal plug, respectively. In this way, the gasket can be radially compressed to provide a desired degree of both sliding seal and static seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1992Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: James W. Vetter, Eric Fraser
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Patent number: 5269793Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1993Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventor: John B. Simpson
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Patent number: 5250059Abstract: An atherectomy catheter comprises a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a cutter housing secured to the proximal end. A spring tip nose cone is secured to a distal end of the cutter housing and comprises a relatively soft polymeric wall having a spring coil embedded therein. The spring tip nose cone has a controlled flexibility, generally being more flexible toward the distal tip. The spring coil inhibits collapse of the nose cone under the expected conditions of use, and the flexibility and non-collapsibility together assure that the nose cone can be introduced over a movable guide wire without substantial binding. Means may be provided for inhibiting loss of atheroma from the interior of the nose cone.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1992Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Bernard H. Andreas, Brian A. Glynn, Michael A. Evans, Brian E. Farley
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Patent number: 5242460Abstract: Atherectomy catheters are described having a cylindrical cutting head rotatably mounted at the distal end of a catheter body. The head has an axially elongated aperture and an open interior. A severing means is disposed adjacent the elongated aperture such that atheromatous material invaginated by the head is severed and diverted into the interior of the head. A preferred embodiment has the elongated aperture helically-disposed about the central axis of the cylindrical head and a cutting means formed integrally along the periphery of the aperture. Another preferred embodiment has the cylindrical head provided with a tapered distal end that extends distally from a housing for the head and incorporates an extension of the elongated aperture.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1990Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.Inventors: Enrique J. Klein, Mark E. Plaia, James R. Kermode, Donald S. Baim, Richard P. Mueller