Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A catheter system for optical coherence tomography includes an elongate catheter body, an optical fiber in the elongate catheter body, and an anamorphic lens assembly coupled with a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the lens assembly are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a target and from a reference interface between the distal end of the optical fiber and the lens assembly.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter device includes an elongate body, a drive shaft extending proximally to distally within the elongate body, and a cutter attached to the drive shaft. The cutter includes a serrated annular cutting edge formed on a distal edge of the cutter and a recessed bowl extending radially inwards from the annular cutting edge to a center of the cutter. The recessed bowl has a first curvature. The cutter further includes a plurality of grinding segments extending inwardly from the distal edge within the bowl. Each of the plurality of segments has a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An occlusion crossing device that includes an outer shaft having an inner lumen and an inner shaft including a distal end with a drill tip body. There is a projection extending from the inner shaft, in which the inner shaft is removably coupled to the outer shaft so that, in a first configuration, the inner shaft can move axially, and can rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise relative to the inner lumen of the outer shaft, in which, in a second configuration, the projection is configured to engage one or more engagement sites at a distal region of the outer shaft so that the outer shaft and the inner shaft rotate tighter, and further in which in the second configuration, a pulling force on the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft causes the occlusion crossing device to deflect in a first direction, and a pushing force on the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft causes the occlusion crossing device to deflect in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter that includes an outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft having a drill tip. The catheter can be configured to bend laterally when the inner shaft is rotating within the other shaft for maneuvering within a blood vessel, for example, as the drill tip crosses an occlusion. Catheter bending can be activated by translating the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft in a distal direction, proximal direction, or both. The outer shaft may include a locking feature to rotatably lock the inner shaft with the outer shaft and allowing bidirectional lateral bending of the catheter. The inner shaft can include one or more imaging sensors for collecting images outside of the catheter. The inner shaft may be removable from the outer shaft, for example after an occlusion is crossed, to allow insertion of a guidewire or other device within the outer shaft.

Abstract: A catheter system for optical coherence tomography includes an elongate catheter body, an optical fiber in the elongate catheter body, and an anamorphic lens assembly coupled with a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the lens assembly are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a target and from a reference interface between the distal end of the optical fiber and the lens assembly.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter device includes an elongate body, a drive shaft extending proximally to distally within the elongate body, and a cutter attached to the drive shaft. The cutter includes a serrated annular cutting edge formed on a distal edge of the cutter and a recessed bowl extending radially inwards from the annular cutting edge to a center of the cutter. The recessed bowl has a first curvature. The cutter further includes a plurality of grinding segments extending inwardly from the distal edge within the bowl. Each of the plurality of segments has a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.

Abstract: A catheter system for optical coherence tomography includes an elongate catheter body, an optical fiber in the elongate catheter body, and an anamorphic lens assembly coupled with a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the lens assembly are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a target and from a reference interface between the distal end of the optical fiber and the lens assembly.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter that includes an outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft having a drill tip. The catheter can be configured to bend laterally when the inner shaft is rotating within the other shaft for maneuvering within a blood vessel, for example, as the drill tip crosses an occlusion. Catheter bending can be activated by translating the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft in a distal direction, proximal direction, or both. The outer shaft may include a locking feature to rotatably lock the inner shaft with the outer shaft and allowing bidirectional lateral bending of the catheter. The inner shaft can include one or more imaging sensors for collecting images outside of the catheter. The inner shaft may be removable from the outer shaft, for example after an occlusion is crossed, to allow insertion of a guidewire or other device within the outer shaft.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter for use in a vessel includes a catheter and a rotatable cutter. The rotatable cutter can be translatable within the catheter to extend the cutter through a window of the catheter or retracted the cutter within the catheter. The catheter can have fixed bend and/or have a shapeable portion configured to facilitate positioning and movement of the cutter. In some cases, the cutter is configured to tilt and/or move radially with respect to the catheter upon translation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate catheter body, a cutter at a distal end of the catheter body, and a nosecone attached to a distal end of the catheter body. The cutter is configured to excise tissue from the body. The nosecone is configured to hold tissue excised from the cutter. The nosecone includes a distal section, a proximal section, and a connection mechanism that is configured to allow the distal section to attach and detach from the proximal section during use. The distal section includes a plug configured to sit within an inner diameter of the proximal section when the proximal section is connected to the distal section.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter device includes an elongate body, a drive shaft extending proximally to distally within the elongate body, and a cutter attached to the drive shaft. The cutter includes a serrated annular cutting edge formed on a distal edge of the cutter and a recessed bowl extending radially inwards from the annular cutting edge to a center of the cutter. The recessed bowl has a first curvature. The cutter further includes a plurality of grinding segments extending inwardly from the distal edge within the bowl. Each of the plurality of segments has a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body, a cutter near the distal end of the catheter body, a drive shaft connected to the cutter and extending within the catheter body, an imaging element near the distal end of the catheter body.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate catheter body, a cutter at a distal end of the catheter body, and a nosecone attached to a distal end of the catheter body. The cutter is configured to excise tissue from the body. The nosecone is configured to hold tissue excised from the cutter. The nosecone includes a distal section, a proximal section, and a connection mechanism that is configured to allow the distal section to attach and detach from the proximal section during use. The distal section includes a plug configured to sit within an inner diameter of the proximal section when the proximal section is connected to the distal section.

Abstract: 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.