Intravascular material removal device

Abstract

An intravascular material removal device that removes material from a vessel wall and creates flow dynamics that draw the material into a catheter device for removal from the vessel is provided. A collapsible device that provides a relatively low delivery profile while being expandable in use to adapt to varying and variable vessel diameters is also provided. A spiral configured material removing element is provided that can adapt to varying vessel diameters and to remove material forming blockages or occlusions from the inner wall of a vessel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intravascular material removal device comprising: 
 an elongate member including a spiral-like element extending radially of the elongate member,    wherein the elongate member is rotatable about its length so that the spiral element produces a partially axial flow pattern, and    wherein the spiral like element has a variable diameter.    
     
     
         2 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 1  wherein the variable diameter of the spiral element is configured to adapt to a diameter of a vessel in which it is located.  
     
     
         3 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 1  wherein the spiral element comprises a plurality of bristles formed in a spiral configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 1  wherein the spiral element is a tapered spiral tapering from a proximal portion of the elongate member to a distal portion of the elongate member.  
     
     
         5 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 1  wherein the spiral element is collapsible.  
     
     
         6 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 5  wherein the spiral element is retractable into a catheter.  
     
     
         7 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 5  further comprising an outer member positioned over at least a portion of the elongate member, wherein the outer member is axially moveable with respect to the inner member so that the outer member engages the spiral element to move the spiral element from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the spiral element has a first diameter and in the second position the spiral element has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.  
     
     
         8 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 1  further comprising a catheter wherein the catheter has an inner diameter and the material removal device has an outer diameter in a deployed position, wherein the catheter inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the material removal device in the deployed position.  
     
     
         9 . An intravascular material removal device comprising: 
 an elongate member including a spiral-like element extending radially of the elongate member    wherein the elongate member is rotatable about its length so that the spiral element produces a partially axial flow pattern, and    wherein the spiral like element comprises a plurality of bristles.    
     
     
         10 . An intravascular material removal device comprising: 
 an elongate member comprising: 
 an inner member including a spiral-like element extending radially of the elongate member, wherein the elongate member is rotatable about its length so that the spiral element produces a partially axial flow pattern; and  
 an outer member positioned over at least a portion of the inner member, wherein the outer member is axially moveable with respect to the inner member so that the outer member engages the spiral element to move the spiral element from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the spiral element has a first diameter and in the second position the spiral element has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.  
   
     
     
         11 . An intravascular material removal device comprising: 
 an elongate means for dislodging material from a vessel wall, wherein the elongate means comprises means for producing a partially axial flow pattern, and means for adapting the diameter of the elongate means to an outer diameter of the vessel wall.    
     
     
         12 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 11  wherein the means for producing the partially axial flow pattern comprises a spiral brush means.  
     
     
         13 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 11  further comprising a retracting means for reducing the diameter of the intravascular material removal device to reduce the profile of the intravascular material removal device.  
     
     
         14 . The intravascular material removal device of  claim 11  further comprising means for removing dislodged material from the vessel.  
     
     
         15 . A method of removing intravascular material from a wall of a vessel comprising the steps of: 
 introducing into a vessel at a site having material to be removed from the vessel, an intravascular material removal device comprising a spiral shaped material removal element, and having a first diameter;    expanding the intravascular material removal device to a second diameter larger than the first diameter;    rotating the intravascular material removal device to dislodge material to be removed and removing the material.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of removing the material comprises aspirating the material.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of aspirating the material comprises aspirating the material into the intravascular removal device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of introducing an intravascular material removal device comprises first selecting the spiral shaped removing element from a plurality of spiral shaped removing elements wherein each of the spiral shaped removing elements has a different material removing property for a different condition of a vessel with material on the vessel wall.  
     
     
         19 . A method of removing intravascular material from a wall of a vessel comprising the steps of: 
 introducing into a vessel at a site having material to be removed from the vessel, a catheter containing an intravascular material removal device having a first diameter within the catheter;    extending the intravascular material removal device out of the catheter, wherein the intravascular material removal device is expanded to have a second diameter larger than the first diameter;    rotating the intravascular material removal device to create and a partially axial flow pattern of material to be removed, in a direction towards the catheter.