Endovascular tissue removal device

Abstract

An endovascular tissue removal device including a lumen with a distal steerable tip portion extending from a joint portion, registration means for holding the joint portion fixed in place in the vasculature, and a source of ablation energy in communication with the lumen whereby tissue can be resected by ablation energy as the tip portion is steered within the vasculature.

1 . An endovascular tissue removal device comprising: 
 a lumen including a distal steerable tip portion extending from a joint portion;    registration means for holding the joint portion fixed in place in the vasculature; and    a source of ablation energy in communication with the lumen whereby tissue can be resected by ablation energy as the tip portion is steered within the vasculature.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  in which the registration means includes an inflatable balloon about the joint portion.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  in which the source of ablation energy is a laser.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  in which the distal steerable tip portion includes a deflectable tip catheter.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  in which there is an optical fiber inside the deflectable tip catheter and connected to the laser.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  further including an expandable barrier for trapping any debris resected.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  further including an expandable mechanism inflatable on the ventricular side of the valve for supporting the leaflets of the valve.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  further including an absorptive surface on the expandable mechanism for absorbing ablation energy.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7  in which the expandable mechanism is a ballon.  
   
   
       10 . An endovascular tissue removal device comprising: 
 a lumen including a distal steerable tip portion extending from a joint portion;    an inflatable balloon about the joint portion for registering the joint portion fixed in place in vasculature; and    a source of ablation energy in communication with the lumen whereby tissue can be resected by ablation energy as the tip portion is steered within the vasculature.    
   
   
       11 . An endovascular tissue removal device comprising: 
 a lumen including a distal steerable tip portion extending from a joint portion;    registration means for holding the joint portion fixed in place in vasculature; and    an optical fiber within the lumen and steerable by the distal steerable tip portion and connected to a source of ablation energy to resect tissue as the tip portion is steered within the vasculature.    
   
   
       12 . An endovascular tissue removal device comprising: 
 a lumen including a deflectable tip catheter;    registration means for holding the catheter fixed in place in vasculature; and    a source of ablation energy in communication with the lumen to resect tissue by ablation energy as the deflectable tip is steered within the vasculature.    
   
   
       13 . An endovascular heart removal device comprising: 
 a catheter including a deflectable tip;    a laser source;    an optical fiber within the catheter connected to the laser source; and    an inflatable balloon for registering the deflectable tip in vasculature to resect a heart valve with laser energy as the deflectable tip portion is used to steer the distal end of the optical fiber within vasculature.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  further including an expandable barrier for trapping debris during resection.  
   
   
       15 . An endovascular heart removal device comprising: 
 a catheter including a deflectable tip;    a laser source;    an optical fiber within the catheter connected to the laser source;    a first inflatable balloon for registering the deflectable tip in vasculature to resect a heart valve with laser energy as the deflectable tip portion is used to steer the distal end of the optical fiber within vasculature; and    a second balloon inflatable on the ventricular side of the valve for supporting the leaflets of the valve.