Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible or inflexible eccentric enlarged abrading and cutting head attached thereto which comprises an abrasive surface. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading and cutting head moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the enlarged abrading and cutting head. Preferably the abrading and cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to travel along an orbital path. The abrading and cutting head comprises proximal and/or distal radiused surfaces that facilitate cutting difficult stenosis material while minimizing trauma to the vessel. In some cases, the abrading and cutting head is made from a relatively dense metal.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotational and/or axially translatable atherectomy system, device and method having a flexible, elongated drive shaft or catheter having an expandable and collapsible conical coil with a cutting edge on the coil's large diameter proximal end. When retracted, the coil's sections are collapsed around each other, held together in the retracted position by a sheath that, when distally retracted, allows the coil to automatically expand. The coil is expanded at a point distal to the occlusion, then pulled proximally to cut the occluding material near the lumen wall. The proximal pulling force may be combined with low-speed rotation and/or translation and/or axial vibration at low to ultrasonic frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy system, device and method comprising a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with a pre-curved abrasive section disposed within a catheter that deforms the abrasive section to a substantially straight profile and, when the abrasive section is moved distally out of the catheter, the abrasive section resumes its pre-curved profile. Directional ablation is achieved by rotation of the drive shaft along its pre-curved axis as the abrasive section is urged against a portion of the lumen wall.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible or inflexible eccentric enlarged abrading and cutting head attached thereto which comprises an abrasive surface. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading and cutting head moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the enlarged abrading and cutting head. Preferably the abrading and cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to travel along an orbital path. The abrading and cutting head comprises proximal and/or distal radiused surfaces that facilitate cutting difficult stenosis material while minimizing trauma to the vessel. In some cases, the abrading and cutting head is made from a relatively dense metal.

Abstract: An rotational atherectomy apparatus for abrading tissue, comprising: a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a nose cone operatively attached proximate the distal end of the drive shaft comprising a distal tapered section and a plurality of elongate, flexible members adjacent to the distal tapered section of the drive shaft, each member in the plurality being fixed at both a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a proximal mount rotatable with the drive shaft and fixedly connected to the proximal ends of all the flexible members in the plurality; and a distal mount axially separated from the proximal mount and fixedly connected to the distal ends of all the flexible members in the plurality.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotational and/or axially translatable atherectomy system, device and method comprising a flexible, elongated drive shaft or catheter comprising an expandable and collapsible conical coil with a cutting edge on the coil's large diameter proximal end. When retracted, the coil's sections are collapsed around each other, held together in the retracted position by a sheath that, when distally retracted, allows the coil to automatically expand. The coil is expanded at a point distal to the occlusion, then pulled proximally to cut the occluding material near the lumen wall. The proximal pulling force may be combined with low-speed rotation and/or translation and/or axial vibration at low to ultrasonic frequency.