Systems, methods and devices for ablation, crossing, and cutting of occlusions

Abstract

Ablation, crossing, and cutting systems, devices and associated methods, including a crossing device, comprising, in combination: a spring-enhanced handle and body configured to controllably extend and retract a blade within a microcatheter for addressing an occlusion within a vessel of a patient to provide improved access for supplemental treatment and reperfusion.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A crossing device, comprising:
 a body coupled to a microcatheter at a proximal end of the microcatheter;   a handle coupled to a blade at a proximal end of the blade,   wherein the blade is disposed within a lumen of the microcatheter, and the microcatheter and blade are flexible to provide trackability within vessels of a patient, and wherein the blade is configured to receive a guidewire for intravascular delivery to a target treatment site within a blood vessel of the patient, and further wherein the blade is configured to move axially and rotationally relative to the microcatheter; and   a spring,   wherein the spring is configured to compress to advance a sharpened tip of the blade axially outward from a natural position within the lumen of the microcatheter to an extended position beyond a distal end of the microcatheter as the handle is advanced relative to the body, and   wherein the spring is configured to expand to axially retract the blade from the extended position toward the natural position within the lumen of the microcatheter as the handle is moved proximally.   
     
     
         2 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a luer configured to be attached to a proximal end of the handle, wherein the luer is configured to facilitate use of a supplemental treatment device in combination with the crossing device. 
     
     
         3 . The crossing device of  claim 2  wherein the luer is configured to guide a supplemental treatment device to the lumen of the microcatheter. 
     
     
         4 . The crossing device of  claim 2  wherein the luer is configured to guide a supplemental treatment device to a lumen of the blade. 
     
     
         5 . The crossing device of  claim 2  wherein the supplemental treatment device comprises at least one of the following: a guidewire, a PTA balloon, and a stent device. 
     
     
         6 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the blade is disposed at a distal end of the blade and is of a rigid material. 
     
     
         7 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the blade is a hollow, sharpened, everted tip. 
     
     
         8 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the body are configured to limit the expansion of the spring and provide the natural position of the blade and further configured to selectively lock the blade in at least one of the natural position and the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a nose detachable from the body and secured to the microcatheter, such that the microcatheter is selectively removable from the body. 
     
     
         10 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen of the microcatheter further comprises guiding members configured to provide torque to the blade as the blade is advanced from the natural position to the extended position. 
     
     
         11 . The crossing device of  claim 2 , further comprising a plunger rod and a hypo support, and wherein the handle, luer, plunger rod, hypo support, and blade comprise an integrated unit. 
     
     
         12 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the blade comprises a concave end or a convex end. 
     
     
         13 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , wherein the crossing device is configured as a rapid exchange device 
     
     
         14 . The crossing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a nose guide, a nose, and a heat shrink portion, and wherein the body, nose guide, nose, heat shrink portion, and microcatheter comprise an integrated unit.