Patent · US Expired

Improved vascular incisor/dilator

US5649941A · kind A · utility

245Cited by
13References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1995
Grant dateJul 22, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/1095
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device and method for clearing a stenosis in a vessel of a patient requires a catheter having a rigid, cone-shaped probe at its distal end. The probe has a distally diminishing taper and also has a plurality of blades which are mounted on the probe and longitudinally aligned with the catheter. The probe is formed to include a series of grooves which span the length of the probe. Advancement of the probe through the vessel to the stenosis can be accomplished either over a prepositioned guidewire or through a prepositioned guide catheter. At the stenosis, the probe with mounted blades are reciprocally moved back and forth across the stenosis to incise and dilate the stenosis and, thus, clear the stenosis. Blood flow is maintained within the vessel by the grooves formed in the surface of the probe. Movement of the probe across the stenosis can be facilitated by selectively activating a rigidizer which is located on the catheter immediately proximal to the probe. Additionally, a balloon can be mounted on the catheter proximal the dilation probe and selectively inflated at the stenosis after the stenosis has been incised and dilated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.