Fiber tip atherectomy catheter.

摘要

A catheter assembly (10) especially designed for the performance of atherectomy procedures which includes an elongated flexible plastic tube (12) which can be routed through the vascular system to the location of the atheroma to be removed and a working catheter (16) insertable through the guide catheter (12) in the form of an elongated flexible plastic tube (16) having a series of fibers (23) integrally formed with or otherwise attached to the distal end portion of the working catheter (16) and normally laying flat against the wall of the catheter (16). The proximal end of the working catheter (16) is adapted for connection to a high speed motor whereby the working catheter (16) can be rotated relative to the surrounding guide catheter (12). As the distal end portion of the working catheter (16) is advanced distally beyond the end of the guide catheter (12), centrifugal force acts upon the fibers (23) to cause them to extend radially outward from the core of the working catheter (16) and when advanced against an atheroma, flail the lesion, reducing it into small particles which can be aspirated out the proximal end of the catheter assembly (10).