Apparatus and methods for removing material from a body lumen

Abstract

Devices, methods, and kits for removing material from a body lumen. The devices and methods may be used in a variety of body lumens, including but not limited to coronary arteries and other blood vessels. In general, the device or catheter has a scoop-shaped cutting blade mounted on a catheter body for removing material from a body lumen. The cutting blade has a cutting edge that travels a curved path about a pivot point of the blade, preferably moving in an outward direction from the catheter body to engage the target material for removal. The scoop-shaped blade has a collection surface located behind the cutting edge to collect material removed from said body lumen. Advantageously, a scoop-shaped cutting blade according to the present invention facilitates material engagement and the collection surface may be used to bring material back into the catheter body as the blade begins to part-off material. The cutting blade is usually mounted to move in an inward direction towards the catheter body after the cutting edge has engaged the material. The cutting blade can also more easily engage occlusive material that is compressed against the body lumen wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter for removing material from a body lumen, said catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; and    a scoop-shaped cutting blade mounted on the catheter body, said cutting blade having a cutting edge and a material collection surface;    wherein said cutting is configured to travel along a curved path about a pivot point of said cutting blade and wherein said material collection surface is located behind said cutting edge to urge material removed from said body lumen towards the catheter body.    
     
     
         2 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting edge is mounted to move along a portion of said path in an outward direction from the catheter body to engage said material.  
     
     
         3 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting edge of the cutting blade is mounted to move in an inward direction towards said catheter body after said cutting edge has engaged said material.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said material collection surface comprises a concave surface.  
     
     
         5 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting blade comprises a sphere having an opening wherein an edge of the opening defines the cutting edge.  
     
     
         6 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting blade is mounted on said catheter body to reciprocate along a longitudinal path on said catheter body.  
     
     
         7 . A catheter as in  claim 6  wherein said cutting blade use a guide for defining said longitudinal path, said guide selected from the group consisting of a slotted track, a rail, or a ramp on said catheter body.  
     
     
         8 . A catheter as in  claim 6  wherein said cutting blade is mounted to reciprocate along said longitudinal path between a first position placing said cutting edge outside of said catheter body and a second position placing said cutting edge substantially within said catheter body.  
     
     
         9 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting blade is mounted on said catheter body to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter body.  
     
     
         10 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting blade includes a material engaging member mounted on said cutting blade to engage said material before said cutting edge contacts said material.  
     
     
         11 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said cutting blade includes at least one penetrating point mounted on said cutting blade to engage said material before said cutting edge contacts said material.  
     
     
         12 . A catheter as in  claim 1  further comprising a second cutter mounted on said catheter body to assist said cutting edge of the cutting blade in parting-off of material.  
     
     
         13 . A catheter as in  claim 1  further comprising an actuator within said catheter body to move the cutting blade along said curved path.  
     
     
         14 . A catheter as in  claim 13  wherein said actuator comprises a pullwire coupled to said cutting blade.  
     
     
         15 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter body comprises a catheter wall with an opening from which said cutting blade extends to engage material.  
     
     
         16 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter body has a distal, forward facing opening from which said cutting blade extends to engage material.  
     
     
         17 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein the catheter body comprises an atraumatic, tapered distal end with a forward facing opening at said distal end.  
     
     
         18 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter body has a shaft adaptor at said proximal end.  
     
     
         19 . A catheter as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter body comprises a cutting mechanism, said cutting blade mounted on said cutting mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . An atherectomy catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;    a cutting mechanism mounted on said distal end of the catheter body; and    cutting means rotatably mounted on said cutting mechanism for removing material from a body lumen.    
     
     
         21 . A catheter as in  claim 20  wherein said cutting means comprises a scoop-shaped cutting blade having a cutting edge mounted to move along a curved path about a pivot point of said cutting blade.  
     
     
         22 . A catheter as in  claim 21  wherein said cutting blade includes a collection surface located behind said cutting edge in the cutting direction.  
     
     
         23 . A catheter as in  claim 21  wherein said cutting blade is mounted to move in an outward direction from the catheter body for a portion of said curved path.  
     
     
         24 . A method for removing material from a body lumen, the method comprising: 
 positioning a catheter body having a scoop-shaped cutting blade adjacent to said target material in the body lumen, said cutting blade having a cutting edge and a material collection surface; and    rotating said cutting blade about a pivot point to engage and cut said target material while urging the material into the catheter body with said material collection surface.    
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 24  further comprising reciprocating said cutting blade along a longitudinal path on said catheter body to remove material.  
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said reciprocating of said cutting blade along said longitudinal path occurs while said cutting blade is being rotated.  
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said longitudinal moving step reciprocates the cutting blade between a first position where the cutting edge is outside the catheter body and a second position wherein the cutting edge is within the catheter body.  
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 25  further comprising piercing said material with a penetrating member in advance of engaging the material with said cutting edge.  
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 25  wherein said rotating of the cutting blade brings the cutting edge adjacent to a second cutting edge of a second cutter.  
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 29  wherein said second cutter is mounted on said catheter body.  
     
     
         31 . A kit comprising: 
 a catheter having a scoop-shaped cutting blade;    instructions for use in removing material from a body lumen comprising positioning said catheter adjacent to said material in the body lumen, said cutting blade having a cutting edge and a material collection surface, and rotating said cutting blade about a pivot point to engage and cut said material while urging the material into the catheter body with said material collection surface; and    a package adapted to contain the device and the instructions for use.