Multiple function vascular device

Abstract

A multi-purpose vascular device defines a lumen allowing fluid communication there through and has a coil with a side of the coil winds having solid physical connections between the coil winds to prevent the connected coil wind side from expanding following the application of force by an actuating member which causes the connected coil winds to have a predetermined configuration in an unstressed state. The application of longitudinal force causes the unconnected coil winds to expand, resulting in the vascular device assuming a different configuration.

1 . A vascular device, comprising:
 a. a shaft defining a longitudinal dimension, a lumen allowing fluid communication through the shaft extending along the longitudinal dimension, a proximal section and a distal section;   b. the distal section defining a weak side and a strong side; and   c. an actuating member attached to the distal section, the actuating member capable of transmitting longitudinal force to the distal section;   
       wherein applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the weak side of the distal section to increase in size while the strong side maintains substantially the same size, resulting in the distal section deflecting. 
     
     
         2 . The vascular device of  claim 1  wherein the actuating member is attached to a distal end of the distal section. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular device of  claim 1  wherein the vascular device in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular device of  claim 1  wherein the vascular device in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular device of  claim 1  wherein at least the distal section comprises a coil defining a central space. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular device of  claim 5  wherein the strong side of the distal section is prevented from assuming a larger size by a ribbon attached to the coil, preventing the non-expandable side of the coil from expanding when longitudinal force is applied to the coil. 
     
     
         7 . The vascular device of  claim 6  wherein the ribbon is attached to the coil at a flattened area configured into the coil. 
     
     
         8 . A vascular device, comprising:
 a. a shaft defining a lateral dimension, a longitudinal dimension, a proximal section, a distal section having greater flexibility than the proximal section and a lumen allowing access through the shaft extending along the longitudinal dimension;   b. the shaft at least partly defining a coil, the coil further defining a distal end;   c. an actuating member attached to the coil, the actuating member capable of transferring longitudinal force to the coil; and   d. a side of the coil winds being physically connected, defining a connected side, to maintain the coil winds on the connected side in a constant configuration preventing differential spacing resulting from the application of longitudinal force and causing the connected coil winds to have a predetermined configuration in an unstressed state;   
       wherein the application of longitudinal force to the actuating member causes an unconnected side of the coil winds to expand, resulting in the vascular device assuming a stressed configuration having a different shape than the vascular device in the unstressed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The vascular device of  claim 8  wherein the device in the unstressed state has a straight configuration and applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect away from the longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The vascular device of  claim 8  wherein the device in the unstressed state has an angled configuration and applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect toward the longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         11 . The vascular device of  claim 8  further comprising the side of the coil having connected coil winds being connected by a ribbon attached to the coil. 
     
     
         12 . The vascular device of  claim 10  wherein the ribbon resides in a recess formed into a section of the surface of the coil. 
     
     
         13 . A vascular device, comprising:
 a. a shaft defining a lateral dimension, a longitudinal dimension, a proximal section, a distal section having greater flexibility than the proximal section and a lumen allowing access through the shaft extending along the longitudinal dimension;   b. the shaft at least partly defining a coil, the coil further defining a distal end;   c. a flexible cutting shaft extending through the lumen, the cutting shaft defining a proximal end and a distal end, with a cutting burr attached to the distal end of the cutting shaft;   d. an actuating member attached to the coil, the actuating member capable of transferring longitudinal force to the coil;   e. a side of the coil winds being physically connected, defining a connected side, to maintain the coil winds on the connected side in a constant configuration preventing differential spacing resulting from the application of longitudinal force and causing the connected coil winds to have a predetermined configuration in an unstressed state;   
       wherein the application of longitudinal force to the actuating member causes an unconnected side of the coil winds to expand, resulting in the vascular device assuming a stressed configuration having a different shape than the vascular device in the unstressed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The vascular device of  claim 13  wherein the device in the unstressed state has a straight configuration and applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect away from the longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         15 . The vascular device of  claim 13  further comprising the side of the coil having connected coil winds being connected by a ribbon attached to the coil. 
     
     
         16 . The vascular device of  claim 13  wherein the ribbon resides in a recess formed into a section of the surface of the coil. 
     
     
         17 . The vascular device of  claim 13  wherein the cutting shaft is made of superelastic nitinol. 
     
     
         18 . The vascular device of  claim 13  wherein at least the distal end is covered by a sheath.