Device and method for centering and crossing a vascular occlusion
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11123098-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A catheter for centrally crossing an occluded blood vessel includes a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passage. A rotatable drive shaft extending through the central passage and has a distal end, a proximal end, and a central lumen. A cutting tip is mounted on the distal end of the rotatable drive shaft and configured to cut through occlusive material when rotated. A plurality of spiral or other flat springs is disposed circumferentially about a distal portion of the catheter body to maintain centering of the catheter and form a passage as the catheter is advanced through a chronic total occlusion.
Core Innovation
A catheter is provided for centrally crossing an occluded blood vessel. The catheter includes a tubular catheter body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passage therethrough, enabling a central pathway during crossing while maintaining alignment in the vessel lumen.
The catheter further includes a rotatable drive shaft extending through the central passage of the tubular catheter body. The rotatable drive shaft has a distal end, a proximal end, and a central lumen therethrough, and it carries a cutting tip mounted on the distal end, with a passage contiguous with the central lumen of the rotatable drive shaft, configured to cut through occlusive material when rotated.
In addition, the catheter includes a plurality of flat springs disposed circumferentially about a distal portion of the tubular catheter body. Each flat spring elastically self-expands from a radially constrained configuration to a radially expanded configuration, where the flat spring has a wide lateral surface configured to atraumatically engage against a wall region of the blood vessel to centrally align the tubular catheter body in a lumen, and a narrow distal edge configured to penetrate the occlusion as the catheter is distally advanced.
The disclosed catheter is actuated and controlled using a handle at the proximal end of the tubular catheter body. Dependent refinements specify particular cutting-tip geometries, such as cutting loops and a fluted distal surface, as well as refinements to the flat-spring structure, including spiral/Ω-shaped profiles and circumferential spacing.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes 1 independent claim. The independent claim recites two primary inventive aspects: a centrally aligned cutting mechanism using a rotatable drive shaft with a cutting tip, and a circumferential self-expanding spring structure with a wide lateral surface for atraumatic central alignment and a narrow distal edge for penetration.
Centrally crossing catheter with central passage and rotatable drive shaft
A tubular catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passage therethrough; and a rotatable drive shaft extending through the central passage of the tubular catheter body and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central lumen therethrough.
Rotatable cutting tip contiguous with central lumen
A cutting tip mounted on the distal end of the rotatable drive shaft and configured to cut through occlusive material when rotated, said cutting tip having a passage contiguous with the central lumen of the rotatable drive shaft.
Circumferential flat springs self-expanding for central alignment and penetration
A plurality of flat springs disposed circumferentially about a distal portion of the tubular catheter body and adapted to elastically self-expand from a radially constrained configuration to a radially expanded configuration wherein each flat spring has a wide lateral surface configured to atraumatically engage against a wall region of the blood vessel to centrally align said tubular catheter body in a lumen of the blood vessel and a narrow distal edge configured to penetrate the occlusion as the catheter is distally advanced.
Proximal handle
A handle at the proximal end of the tubular catheter body.
The independent claim covers a catheter that centrally crosses an occluded blood vessel by combining a rotatable drive shaft and cutting tip with a centrally aligned, elastically self-expanding circumferential flat-spring structure that atraumatically engages for central alignment and uses a narrow distal edge to penetrate the occlusion as the catheter advances.
Stated Advantages
Centrally align said tubular catheter body in a lumen of the blood vessel by atraumatically engaging against a wall region of the blood vessel.
Penetrate the occlusion as the catheter is distally advanced using a narrow distal edge of each flat spring.
Cut through occlusive material when the cutting tip is rotated.
Documented Applications
Centrally crossing an occluded blood vessel (including chronic total occlusion in the provided summary context) using the described catheter.
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