Over-the-wire valvulotomes

摘要

Over-the-wire self-sizing, self-centering valvulotomes sufficiently designed to cut valves through a wide range of vein diameters and adjust to the internal diameter of a vein as the valvulotome is being drawn through the vessel, and methods of use thereof during certain medical procedures that involve splitting valves, are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an over-the-wire valvulotome includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein a first portion of a plurality of cutting tools engage the catheter at the distal end, and wherein an actuation mechanism engages the catheter at the proximal end; a retainer for temporarily shielding a second portion of the plurality of cutting tools, wherein the second portion includes cutting blades; and a sheath slidably movable over the plurality of cutting blades, wherein the catheter and the retainer have internal diameters configured for passing over a guidewire.

主权项

1. An over-the-wire valvulotome comprising:
a catheter having an internal catheter diameter, wherein the internal catheter diameter is sized for passing a guidewire therethrough; a retainer located at a distal end of the catheter; and a cutting unit comprising a plurality of self-centering, self-sizing cutting tools, wherein a distal portion of each cutting tool is associated with the retainer, and wherein each cutting tool is designed so when the cutting unit is in a closed position, a portion of each cutting tool is positioned adjacent to an outer circumference of the catheter, wherein each cutting tool has (i) a first attached end mounted on the distal end of the catheter, (ii) a second free floating end, and (iii) a cutting blade having a recessed cutting edge, and wherein the retainer includes (i) a plurality of slots in which the second free floating ends of the plurality of cutting tools are guided and (ii) a plurality of stop positions preventing the second free floating ends of the plurality of cutting tools from exiting the retainer.