Surgery – Instruments – Blood vessel – duct or teat cutter – scrapper or abrader
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-06-05
Truong, Kevin (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Blood vessel, duct or teat cutter, scrapper or abrader
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241745
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the restoration of blood flow capacity to occluded and partially occluded blood vessels, and more particularly to an apparatus and procedure for removing the interior lining of an artery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A common technique for treating arterial stenosis has been surgical construction of a bypass conduit around the site of the occlusion. Bypass grafting with a vein or prosthetic graft, has been the dominant technique for arterial reconstruction. Endarterectomy is also performed as an alternative treatment method. An endarterectomy is defined as the physical separation and removal of the inner layer of the blood vessel wall, the tunica-intima, over the length of the blood vessel where the blockage is located. The blockage is thereby removed along with the tunica-intima from the wall of the blood vessel. After removal of the blockage and the tunica-intima from the vessel, a new tunica-intima grows to replace that portion of the tunica-intima that was removed.
A problem with current ring separators/cutters is that the tunica-intima is separated from the blood vessel for a distance past where it is to be severed. Hence, upon removal of the tunica-intima and the blockage, a significant portion of the tunica-intima remains displaced loosely around the circumference of the inner wall of the vessel. This loosely attached tunica-intima is believed to hasten restenosis of the blood vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for surgical removal of an occlusion from a blood vessel. Briefly described, in architecture, the apparatus can be constructed as follows. A separator ring configured to remove the interior lining of a blood vessel may be fixed to the distal end of a resilient, flexible catheter. The catheter operationally connected with the separator ring, may have a bore extending therethrough to permit the placement of an electrical conductor therethrough. The electrical conductor may be configured such that it is concentrically co-located with the separator ring at the distal end of the catheter. The electrical conductor may be configured with a mechanism for snaring, as well as, for severing the inner layers of an artery with the outer wall of the artery. A cautery control unit electrically connected to the electrical conductor may control the supply of electric current in the wire loop.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for surgically removing an inner layer of a segment of a blood vessel to remove an occlusion. In this regard, the method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: Forming an incision in the blood vessel. Inserting the distal end of a resilient, flexible catheter with a separator ring and a wire loop affixed thereto, thereby introducing the separator ring between at least one of the inner layers of the arterial wall from the outermost layer of the blood vessel. Advancing the distal end of the catheter with the separator ring and the wire loop along the blood vessel past the occlusion. Using the wire loop to snare and sever the inner layers of the arterial wall. Removing the occlusion along with the inner layers of the arterial wall by withdrawing the catheter from the blood vessel. Last, closing the incision in the blood vessel.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
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The Mollring Cutter™ Remote Endarterectomy: Preliminary Experience with a New Endovascular Technique for Treatment of Occlusive Superficial Femoral Artery Disease, Gwan H. Ho, M.D. et al., Aug. 1995, pp. 278-287.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
Truong Kevin
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