Neuro thrombectomy catheter

Abstract

An elongate tubular body extends between a rotatable cutter and a control. The cutter is connected to the control with a rotatable element. A vacuum is applied through an annular passage defined between the tubular body and the rotatable element. The tubular body has a sufficiently small outside diameter and sufficient kink resistance and pushability to navigate through arteries such as the internal carotid artery.

1 . A rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter, comprising: 
 an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body having a distal segment with an outside diameter small enough to access vessels having a lumen diameter of less than about 3 mm;    an elongate element extending through the body;    a rotatable cutter at the distal end of the body and connected to the elongate element, the rotatable cutter comprising at least two radially outwardly extending cutting flanges and having a diameter up to about 0.092 inches; and    a control on the proximal end of the body.    
   
   
       2 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutter has an axial length up to about 0.12 inches.  
   
   
       3 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable cutter has an axial length greater than about 0.04 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       5 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       6 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M3 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       7 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left vertebral artery.  
   
   
       8 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the basilar artery.  
   
   
       9 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left posterior cerebral artery.  
   
   
       10 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left posterior communicating artery.  
   
   
       11 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate element is rotatable.  
   
   
       12 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutter extends beyond the distal end of the body.  
   
   
       13 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutter is recessed in the tubular body.  
   
   
       14 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutter cooperates with the tubular body to shear material.  
   
   
       15 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a central guidewire lumen extending throughout the length of the tubular body.  
   
   
       16 . A rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter, comprising: 
 an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body having a distal segment with an outside diameter small enough to access vessels having a lumen diameter of less than about 3 mm;    an elongate element extending through the body;    a rotatable cutter at the distal end of the body and connected to the elongate element, the rotatable cutter having comprising at least two radially outwardly extending cutting flanges and an axial length up to about 0.12 inches; and    a control on the proximal end of the body.    
   
   
       17 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotatable cutter has an axial length greater than about 0.04 inches.  
   
   
       18 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotatable cutter has a diameter up to about 0.092 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       20 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       21 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the M3 segment of the middle cerebral artery.  
   
   
       22 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left vertebral artery.  
   
   
       23 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the basilar artery.  
   
   
       24 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left posterior cerebral artery.  
   
   
       25 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the outside diameter of the distal segment of the tubular body is small enough to access the right or left posterior communicating artery.  
   
   
       26 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the elongate element is rotatable.  
   
   
       27 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotatable cutter extends beyond the distal end of the body.  
   
   
       28 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotatable cutter is recessed in the tubular body.  
   
   
       29 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotatable cutter cooperates with the tubular body to shear material.  
   
   
       30 . The rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter of  claim 16 , further comprising a central guidewire lumen extending throughout the length of the tubular body.  
   
   
       31 . A rotational neuro thrombectomy catheter, comprising: 
 an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body having a distal segment with an outside diameter of no more than about 1.3 mm;    a rotatable drive shaft extending through the body;    a cutting tip at the distal end of the body and connected to the rotatable drive shaft, the cutting tip comprising at least two radially outwardly extending cutting flanges; and    a control on the proximal end of the body.