Catheter atherector

Abstract

An improved catheter atherector for shaving, cutting, and emulsifying accumulated plaque into fine particles, and removing the particles from blood vessel walls without cutting or permanently stretching the walls, and without substantially blocking the blood flow through the vessel during plaque removal operation. The catheter atherector includes an emulsification reduction sphere and extraction wire that rotate and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material. Emulsified occlusive reduced plaque material and blood only flow in a proximal direction into a catheter lumen. The operation of the device does not substantially disrupt blood pressure within the blood vessel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device configured to remove occlusive material from a vessel, comprising:
 a catheter with a hollow elongated lumen, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; 
 an emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere within adjacent to the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere comprises a substantially spherical shape composed of a plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions and slots, wherein each protrusion comprises a substantially smooth, curved surface extending outward, and a distal sharp tip, and each slot comprises a substantially smooth, curved sharp bottom surface extending inward; 
 an opening on the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere into the distal opening of the catheter within the plurality of protrusions and slots; 
 an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter, wherein the emulsification-extraction wire comprises a substantially cylindrical screw helical ridge body and forms an internal auger within internal walls of the catheter lumen; 
 a plurality of occlusive material cutters on the distal end of the emulsification-extraction wire extending outwardly from the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the plurality of occlusive material cutters are contained within the plurality of protrusions on the emulsification of plaque particles sphere; 
 wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere and the emulsification-extraction wire are configured to each independently rotate in opposite directions and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material; 
 wherein the plurality of protrustions protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material cutters for emulsification into reduced particles, and the plurality of protrusions are configured such that the movement of the plurality of protrusions does not pierce or cut the vessel wall; 
 wherein the distal sharp tips of each protrusion shave the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material particles for emulsification and distal sharp tips are configured to not contact the vessel wall; and 
 wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood only flows in a proximal direction into the catheter lumen through the plurality of occlusive material helical walls of the extraction wire cutters, wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood is filtered and flows back into the vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere rotates at a rate of 60 rpm to 3000 rpm. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere is expandable and retractable. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere comprises a diameter of 1.5 to 8 millimeters. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational and axial movement of the emulsification-extraction wire is independent from the rotational and axial movement of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate faster than the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate from 250 rpm to 8000 rpm. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions on the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere each comprise a width of 30% to 50% of the diameter of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alternating, adjacent slots on the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere each comprise a width of 10% to 50% of the diameter of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       10. A device configured to remove occlusive material from a vessel, comprising:
 a catheter with a hollow elongated lumen, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a shaving and particles sphere within adjacent to the distal opening of the guide catheter, wherein the shaving and particles sphere comprises a substantially spherical shape composed of a plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions and slots, wherein each protrusion comprises a substantially smooth, curved surface extending outward, and distal sharp blades at the tip, and each slot comprises a substantially smooth, curved surface extending inward; 
 an opening on the shaving and particles sphere into the distal opening of the catheter within the plurality of protrusions and slots; 
 an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter, wherein the emulsification-extraction wire comprises a substantially cylindrical screw helical ridged body and forms an internal auger within internal walls of the catheter lumen; 
 a plurality of occlusive material cutters on the distal end of the emulsification-extraction wire extending outwardly from the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the plurality of occlusive material cutters are contained within the plurality of protrusions on the shaving and particles sphere; 
 wherein the shaving and particles sphere and the emulsification-extraction wire are configured to each independently rotate and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material; 
 wherein the plurality of protrustions protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material slots for emulsification into reduced particles by sharp surfaces on the bottoms of the slots, and the plurality of protrusions are configured such that the movement of the plurality of protrusions does not pierce or cut the vessel wall; 
 wherein the distal sharp edges of each protrusion shave and cut the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material slots for emulsification and distal sharp edges and tips are configured to not contact the vessel wall; 
 wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood only flows in a proximal direction into the catheter lumen through the plurality of occlusive material slots, wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood is filtered and flows back into the vessel; and 
 wherein during operation of the device, the device is configured such that laminar blood flow continues substantially uninterrupted in the blood vessel by flowing around the plurality of slots on the shaving and particles sphere and around the catheter within the vessel walls. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the shaving and particles sphere rotates at a rate of 60 rpm to 3000 rpm. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the shaving and particles sphere is expandable and retractable. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the shaving and particles sphere comprises a diameter of 1.5 to 8 millimeters. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the rotational and axial movement of the emulsification-extraction wire is independent from the rotational and axial movement of the shaving and particles sphere. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate faster than the shaving and particles sphere. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate from 250 rpm to 8000 rpm. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions on the shaving and particles sphere each comprise a width of 30% to 50% of the diameter of the shaving and particles sphere. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of alternating, adjacent slots on the shaving and particles sphere each comprise a width of 10% to 50% of the diameter of the shaving and particles sphere. 
     
     
       19. A device configured to remove occlusive material from a vessel, comprising:
 a catheter with a hollow elongated lumen, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; 
 an emulsification reduction sphere within adjacent to the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the emulsification reduction sphere comprises a substantially spherical shape composed of a plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions and slots, wherein each protrusion comprises a substantially smooth, curved surface extending outward, and a distal sharp edges and tip, and each slot comprises a substantially smooth, curved surface extending inward; 
 an opening on the emulsification reduction sphere into the distal opening of the catheter within the plurality of protrusions and slots; an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter, wherein the emulsification-extraction wire comprises a substantially cylindrical screw helical ridge body and forms an internal auger within internal walls of the catheter lumen; 
 a plurality of occlusive material cutters on the distal end of the emulsification-extraction wire extending outwardly from the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the plurality of occlusive material cutters are contained within the plurality of protrusions on the emulsification sphere; 
 wherein the emulsification reduction sphere and the emulsification-extraction wire are configured to each independently rotate in opposite directions and together move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material; 
 wherein the plurality of protrustions protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material cutters for emulsification and the plurality of protrusions are configured such that the movement of the plurality of protrusions does not pierce or cut the vessel wall; 
 wherein the distal sharp tips of each protrusion cut the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material cutters for emulsification and distal sharp tips are configured to not contact the vessel wall; 
 wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood only flows in a proximal direction into the catheter lumen through the plurality of occlusive material cutters, wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood is filtered and flows back into the vessel; and 
 wherein during operation of the device, the device is configured such that it does not substantially disrupt blood flow and pressure within the blood vessel. 
 
     
     
       20. A device configured to remove occlusive material from a vessel, comprising:
 a catheter with a hollow elongated lumen, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a shaving and particles sphere adjacent to the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the shaving and particles sphere comprises a substantially spherical shape composed of a plurality of alternating. adjacent protrusions and slots, wherein each protrusion comprises distal sharp blades at the tip;   an opening on the shaving and particles sphere into the distal opening of the catheter within the plurality of protrusions and slots;   an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter;   a plurality of occlusive material cutters on the distal end of the emulsification-extraction wire extending outwardly from the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the   plurality of occlusive material cutters are contained within the plurality of protrusions on the shaving and particles sphere;   wherein the shaving and particles sphere and the emulsification-extraction wire are configured to each independently rotate and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material;   wherein the plurality of protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material slots for emulsification into reduced particles by sharp surfaces on the bottoms of the slots, and the plurality of protrusions are configured such that the movement of the plurality of protrusions does not pierce or cut the vessel wall;   wherein the distal sharp edges of each protrusion shave and cut the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material slots for emulsification and distal sharp edges and tips are configured to not contact the vessel wall;   wherein the mixture of emulsified occlusive material and blood only flows in a proximal direction into the catheter lumen through the plurality of occlusive material slots and wherein during operation of the device, the device is configured such that laminar blood flow continues substantially uninterrupted in the blood vessel by flowing around the plurality of slots on the shaving and particles sphere and around the catheter within the vessel walls.   
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere rotates at a rate of 60 rpm to 3000 rpm. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 20 . wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere comprises a diameter of 1.5 to 8 millimeters. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the rotational and axial movement of the emulsification-extraction wire is independent from the rotational and axial movement of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate faster than the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the emulsification-extraction wire rotates at a rate from 250 rpm to 8000 rpm. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 20 . wherein the plurality of alternating. adjacent protrusions on the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere each comprise a width of 30% to 50% of the diameter of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 20 . wherein the plurality of alternating. adjacent slots on the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere each comprise a width of 10% to 50% of the diameter of the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the shaving and particles sphere and the emulsification-extraction wire are configured to each independently rotate in opposite directions and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material.