Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.

Quinton Instrument Company

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Mark H Wyzgala

Edward I Wulfman

Eric B Hamilton

Robert Lawrence Barry

Tom J Hiblar

Lixiao Wang

John Jianhua Chen

Ernest George Schutt

Sheng-Ping Zhong

Irina Nazarova

Lucas S Gordon

W Dean Kirkland

Matt Hefner

Mark A Walters

Donald Charles Baumgarten

Gary Swinford

Nancy Haig

Tom Clement

Tom Kadavy

Bill Kanz

Denise Drummond

Paul A Hirst

John K Hoffman

Casey Torrance

Zihong Guo

Brian Cran

Natalya Peskin

Thomas J Hiblar

Tim J Johnson

Dennis Werner

Rodney J Bruneau

Matthew Hefner

Andy Uhrberg

An atherectomy burr has an operating diameter that is larger than the diameter of a catheter in which the burr is routed. The burr may include an expandable polymeric balloon having a partially abrasive exterior surface. The maximum expansion of the burr is controlled by an expansion mechanism. Various mechanisms are disclosed for controlling the maximum diameter of the burr thus preventing the burr from over expanding. In addition, the present invention includes systems that are pulled proximally to remove portions of a lesion located in a patient's vasculature. The system includes an ablation burr that has abrasive disposed on the proximal end. The burr may create a seal when expanded to block the ablated particulate so that an aspiration system can remove the particulate from the vasculature. Alternatively, the burr system may include a self expanding seal that is deployed out of the aspiration sheath.

Expandable ablation burr

An atherectomy burr has an operating diameter that is larger than the diameter of a catheter in which the burr is routed. The burr may include a polymeric balloon that is coated with an abrasive and that expands when the burr is rotated. When the burr is rotated, the polymeric tube expands by centrifugal force. The maximum expansion of the burr is controlled by an expansion mechanism. Various mechanisms are disclosed for controlling the maximum diameter of the burr thus preventing the burr from over expanding. In addition, the present invention includes a system for preventing the loose ablated particulate from reembolizing in the distal vasculature. The system includes an ablation burr that has abrasive disposed on the proximal end that is pulled back toward the guide catheter to ablate the lesion. The burr creates a seal when expanded to block the ablated particulate so that the aspiration system can remove the particulate from the patient vessel or stent. Alternatively, the burr system may include a self expanding seal that is deployed out of the aspiration sheath so that a slight vacuum can remove the large loose particulate form, the patient's vessel or stent.

A guide wire brake suitable for use in a rotational ablation system includes a linear actuator that when actuated, in conjunction with a brake collet, prevent a guide wire from rotating or moving axially during the rotation of the ablation burr. Multiple embodiments of the linear actuator are disclosed that use single and/or multiple bellows configurations to actuate the guide wire brake.

Brake activator system for a rotational ablation device

A catheter including an elongate drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablation burr disposed at the distal end expandable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position has a greater transverse dimension than in the first position. The catheter of the present invention can include a mechanism for positioning the burr eccentrically within a vessel lumen. In this context, expansion means that the burr can ablate a lumen having a larger diameter than the diameter of the lumen of the guide catheter to which the device is advanced.

Steerable ablation burr

A system for ablating material in vein grafts includes an ablation burr that is rotated by a driveshaft. The ablation burr preferably includes one or more channels, blades or other mechanisms that direct ablated material and liquid proximally and/or outwardly against a vessel wall. Aspiration is used to remove ablated material and liquid from the treatment area. Finally, methods for treating vein grafts and original native arteries are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for treating vein graft lesions

An atherectomy burr has an operating diameter that is larger than the diameter of a catheter in which the burr is routed. The burr may include a polymeric balloon that is coated with an abrasive and that expands when the burr is rotated. Alternatively, the burr may include a polymeric tube that is coated with an abrasive and secured to the proximal end of the burr. When the burr is rotated, the polymeric tube expands by centrifugal force. Alternatively, the burr may comprise a metallic strip wound over a mandrel. When the strip is tightly coiled to the mandrel, its outer diameter decreases. The outer diameter of the burr increases as the metallic strip expands. In addition, the burr can be formed as a wire spring wound over a drive tube. The distal end of the spring is coupled to a nose cone that can move within a distal lumen in the drive tube. The maximum expansion of the burr is controlled by the distance that the nose cone can be retracted into the lumen. In addition, the present invention includes a burr having an indexable outer diameter. Various indexing mechanisms are disclosed for selectively increasing or decreasing the distance between a proximal and distal end of the burr. As the length of the burr changes, the outer diameter of a number of cutting blades is changed to allow a physician to create different sized lumens in a patient's vessel.

Expandable atherectomy burr

A catheter including an elongate drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablation burr disposed at the distal end which can be drawn proximally to engage with a burr deflector surface of the drive shaft in order to be displaced transversely to remove plaque.

Ablation burr

Methods and apparatus for the conservation of respiratory promoters following their pulmonary introduction are disclosed. In preferred embodiments the present invention provides methods and apparatus for reducing the loss of respiratory promoter, and particularly fluorochemcials, during medical procedures such as liquid ventilation. The disclosed methods comprise the use of vapor retention assemblies, which may be conventional heat and moisture exchangers, to passively retain the respiratory promoter and return it to the lungs in subsequent breaths. Novel vapor retention assemblies comprising fluorophilic exchange elements are also disclosed.

Vapor retention assembly

Expandable atherectomy burr and method of ablating an occlusion from a

Methods and apparatus for reducing the loss of respiratory promoters

Pull-apart sheath introducer for percutaneous catheter introduction

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Mark H Wyzgala