| 摘要 |
An excision catheter comprises a cylindrical cutting head (22) with a rearwardly directed cutting edge (24). The catheter has a flexible nose (36) enabling the catheter to be fed into an artery over a pre-inserted guide wire which passes through the lumen (32) of the catheter. During insertion, the cutting edge (24) is shielded by the distal end (58) of an outer sleeve catheter (52). Following insertion, the sleeve (52) can be retracted to expose the cutting edge (24) of the cutting head (22). The cutting head is then pulled back through the obstructive tissue which accumulates in the tissue collection chamber (28) inside the cutting head (22). Prior to withdrawal, the open end of the cutting head can once again be sealed by retraction against the tip (58) of the outer sleeve (52), thus trapping the excised tissue in the chamber (28) for removal of that tissue from the body. Preferably means are provided for rotating the cutting head during the excision. <IMAGE> |
