Lumend, Inc.

Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.

Robert L Wynne

Suresh Subraya Pai

Kent D Dell

Charles F Milo

Charles Gresl, Jr

Matthew R Selmon

Gerald L Hansen

E Richard Hill, Iii

Ferolyn T Powell

Ron Ray Hundertmark

Larry B Rogers

Jeffrey W Krier

Earl R Hill, Iii

David W Snow

Randolph E Campbell

An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter. A directed force is applied to the actuator in order to deploy the spreading member and displace a vascular occlusion creating a path to permit the passage of a guidewire or device therethrough.

Methods and apparatus for treating vascular occlusions

Method and apparatus for treating vascular occlusions

An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be, provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter. A directed force is applied to the actuator in order to deploy the spreading member and displace a vascular occlusion creating a path to permit the passage of a guidewire or device therethrough.

Apparatus for treating vascular occlusions

Disclosed herein is a cutter capable of removing soft and hard tissue when used with an atherectomy catheter of the type having a cutter housing attached to the distal end of a catheter having a torque cable. A circular cutting blade is disposed within the housing and is secured to the distal end of a rotatable torque cable. An elongated aperture formed along one side of the hosing allows the intrusion of stenotic material which may then be severed by rotating and axially translating the cutting blade. The cutting blade may be made from a cemented tungsten carbide compound of 90 percent tungsten carbide (WC) and 10 percent cobalt (Co) which is heated, injection molded and sintered to produce a hard, durable cutting edge. The cutting edge is coated with titanium carbonitride using a physical vapor deposition process to further increase durability. Cutting edge hardness is further increased by application of an ion implantation of nitrogen using an ion-beam assisted deposition process. A variety of alternative cutter materials, coatings and geometries are defined which improve cutter performance in removing soft and hard lesions.

Cutter device

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Pacifica, CA, United States of America

Robert L Wynne