Atherectomy devices and methods

Abstract

The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.

1 . A vascular device for removing material from body lumens, the device comprising:
 a straightening tube, having a straight distal portion;   a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body having a flexible section located towards the distal end, such that when located in the straight distal portion of the straightening tube the flexible section is less curved   a cutter assembly located at the distal end of the catheter body, the cutter assembly comprising a housing having at least one opening and a cutter having at least one cutting surface configured to rotate relative to the housing, where movement between the housing opening and the cutting surface removes material located therebetween; and   a rotating shaft extending through the catheter body and coupled to the cutter, the torque shaft having a proximal end adapted to couple to a first rotating mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The vascular device of  claim 1 , where the flexible section of the catheter body comprises a curved shape and the straight distal portion of the straightening tube comprises a substantially straight shape such that when located in the straight distal portion the flexible section of the catheter straightens. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular device of  claim 2 , where the catheter body is coupled to a second rotating mechanism, such that when the curved section is advanced out of the straightening tube, rotation of the catheter body causes the cutter assembly to move in an arc. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular device of  claim 3 , further comprising a locking hub configured to lock the catheter body relative to the straightening tube such that the arc may have a constant radius. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular device of  claim 1 , where the flexible section of the catheter body comprises a substantially straight shape and the distal portion comprises a curved shape such that when located in the stiff distal section the flexible section of the catheter assumes the curved shape. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular device of  claim 5 , where the outer sheath is coupled to a second rotating mechanism, such that when advanced over the in the stiff distal section, rotation of the catheter body causes the cutter assembly to move in an arc. 
     
     
         7 . The vascular device of  claim 6 , further comprising a locking hub configured to lock the catheter body relative to the steering member body relative to the steering member such that the arc may have a constant radius. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , where a portion of the housing comprises a curved surface and the opening forms a plane across the curved surface such that as the cutting surface rotates across the opening, a portion of the cutting surface extends out of the housing through the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , where the torque shaft and cutter assembly each have a lumen allowing for advancement of a guidewire therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , cutter comprises a plurality of flutes where the cutting surface is an edge of the flute. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , where the cutting surface of the flute is helical. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , where each flute is arranged relative to the openings in the housing such that during a total length of the cutting surface exposed in the housing opening remains the same. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a ferrule linking the housing to the said outer tube on the catheter body. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , where the shaft has at least one helical conveyor member wound about an exterior such that rotation of the torque shaft conveys material across a length of the torque shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , where the helical conveyor member is wound in the same rotational sense as the helical flutes on the cutter 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , where a guide-wire portion is fixedly attached to the cutter. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , where the deflecting member comprises a wire extending along a length of the flexible catheter.