Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.

Hanson S Gifford, Iii

John B Simpson

Richard L Mueller, Jr

Peter S Brown

Tommy G Davis

Hira Thapliyal

Kenneth A Stenstrom

An atherectomy device includes a transparent lumen for providing inflation medium to an inflatable balloon. A dual lumen flexible tube includes an opaque flexible torque member in a first lumen, while the second lumen serves as an inflation lumen. The distal end of the inflation lumen is expanded to define the balloon, and no seals are needed between the balloon and the inflation lumen.

Atherectomy catheter and method of forming the same

An atherectomy catheter for removal of plaque buildup from the walls of a blood vessel. The atherectomy catheter includes a cutter assembly disposed at the distal end of a flexible guide tube that may be inserted into a vessel and directed to the occlusion. A proximal actuator assembly is adapted to impart both rotary and axial movement to the cutter. The cutter assembly includes a cutter having a forwardly extending annular cutting surface. A guide wire with a flexible spring tip extends forward of the cutter for guiding the cutter as it travels axially through the artery. All of the removed atheroma materials are collected within the device and a retention member carried by the guide wire and positioned in front of the cutter forms a cap to retain the collected atheroma materials. In a disclosed embodiment, the retention member is expandable, and in one of the preferred embodiments, the retention member may be expanded to engage the vessel walls to anchor the device during the cutting stroke.

Atherectomy device for severe occlusions

An atherectomy device having a housing at the distal end of a catheter adapted for insertion into the vascular system. The housing has a cutout in one side, and a cutter that is mounted in the housing for both axial and rotary movement with respect to the cutout. At least a portion of the housing is formed of a material which permits bending of the housing as it follows the contours of the vessel. The housing is also adapted to retain the severed atheroma materials.

Atherectomy device having a flexible housing

Motor drive unit for use with an atherectomy device having a flexible drive cable and a finger operated member for advancing and retracting the drive cable. The drive unit comprises a motor and a power supply mounted in a case of a size which fits comfortably in a human hand, with a power switch positioned for operation by a finger of the hand holding the case. When the motor is connected to the drive cable, the finger operated member can be operated by a finger of the hand holding the case to advance and retract the cable and the cutter connected thereto.

Motor drive unit

Atherectomy device for removing material from an atheroma in the vascular system. A cutter is mounted in a cylindrical housing having a cutout on one side thereof at the distal end of a catheter. The catheter has a single luminal opening, and a flexible drive cable for operating the cutter passes through this opening. An inflatable balloon is positioned outside the housing opposite the cutout, and a medium for inflating the balloon is introduced through the luminal opening of the catheter.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Hanson S Gifford, Iii