Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing atherectomy torque tubes includes a mechanism for rotating a tube liner about its longitudinal axis at a rotational velocity. A carriage is translatably positioned along the longitudinal axis. A mechanism for winding a wire about the tube liner is mounted on the carriage. A mechanism for coating the tube liner with an epoxy material is also mounted on the carriage. In a preferred embodiment, wire is wound onto the tube liner inside a reservoir of urethane epoxy bath which is moved along the tube liner. A laser sensor measures the coated tube to provide a signal representative of the final outside diameter of the tube and a computer uses this signal to control the angular velocity of the rotating tube liner and the linear velocity of the carriage which moves the wire winding and coating mechanism along the tube.
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 expandable atherectomy cutting device comprises a flexible blade having one end connected to a torque tube and the other end connected to a tip. The tip and torque tube are rotatably positioned about a guide wire, and the torque tube is coupled to a drive element for rotating the flexible blade about the guide wire. A mechanism is associated with the tip and torque tube for pulling the tip toward the torque tube to cause the flexible blade to bow outwardly away from the guide wire to expand its radius of cutting action. The mechanism for causing the flexible blade to bow outwardly includes a base rotatably mounted in slidable relation in the torque tube, and a series of desmodromic filaments connecting the base to the tip for pulling the tip toward the torque tube. The flexible blade includes a bend so that it bows outwardly rather than inwardly.
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 26, 1989
Date of Patent:
July 24, 1990
Assignee:
InterVentional Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Andrew F. Farr, Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 23, 1987
Date of Patent:
January 23, 1990
Assignee:
Interventional Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Andrew F. Farr, Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 1988
Date of Patent:
December 19, 1989
Assignee:
Interventional Technologies Inc.
Inventors:
Andrew F. Farr, Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
Abstract: Crystals are energized to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The crystals are coupled to an insert having a body portion coaxial with the crystals so as to vibrate the insert at the ultrasonic frequency. At least one sharp cutting edge extends from one end of the body portion of the insert. The thickness of the insert may taper progressively from the body portion to the sharp cutting edge. The sharp cutting edge may actually constitute a pair of edges disposed in a scissor relationship. The cutting edge(s) may progressively converge to a sharp point. Alternately, the sharp cutting edge may be disposed at the inner periphery of an aperture. Instead of being vibrated at a single ultrasonic frequency, the insert may be vibrated at a pair of ultrasonic frequencies to impart a vibration of the insert simultaneously in the coaxial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the coaxial direction. The insert engages a meniscus to trim fragments from the meniscus.