Atherectomy device having trapping and excising means for removal of plaque from the aorta and other arteries

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In a first embodiment, an arterial atherectomy catheter with associated filter is provided as depicted in FIG.
1.
The catheter system includes a flexible elongate member 50 having an outer surface, a distal region 51 adapted to enter an artery, and a proximal region.
In certain embodiments, the catheter system includes filtration assembly 69 having an expansion means, typically comprising inflation seal 70, disposed about distal region 51 of flexible elongate member 50, wherein inflation seal 70 is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition.
The filtration assembly will further include mesh 75 which is operably connected to inflation seal 70 at a first edge, and is closely associated with the outer surface of elongate member 50 at a second edge.
Thus, in a contracted condition, inflation seal 70 and mesh 75 can be inserted through the femoral artery and up through aorta 99 into a region of interest, and thereafter expanded by injection of fluid or gas into inflation seal 70 to thereby achieve contact with the inner lumen of aorta 99.
The arterial catheter system further includes atherectomy assembly 80 disposed within distal region 51 of elongate member 50, and distal to filtration assembly 69.
Atherectomy assembly 80 generally includes cutting blade 81 or other means to remove atheromatous plaque from aorta 99 or the femoral artery, and suction means 82 which may comprise the inner lumen of catheter 50, or a separate tubular member carried therein.
During operation, mobile aortic plaque 98 is trapped and held securely by suction means 82 and simultaneously excised from the arterial lumen by cutting blade 81.
An exploded view of the arterial catheter system is depicted in FIG.
2.
For this embodiment, elongate member 50 includes atherectomy assembly 80 at its distal end.
The atherectomy assembly includes distally located cutting blade 81, suction means 82 comprising a separate tubular member housed within the lumen of elongate member 50 and which may or may not extend beyond the distal opening of elongate member 50, and means for intravascular imaging 83 which may include an ultrasound transducer for intravascular ultrasound which is constructed in accordance with technology well known in the art