Laser slotted grabbing device

Abstract

Mechanical atherectomy and/or thrombectomy devices configured to remove obstructions (e.g., plaque material) of different consistencies and/or sizes from blood vessels. The devices may include a tractor comprising a flexible tube of material that inverts as it rolls over itself while being drawn into the open distal end of a catheter in a conveyor-like motion. The flexible tube can include features that facilitate engagement with the obstruction, enhance smooth tractor motion and/or promote movement control of the device within the blood vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atherectomy device for removing a plaque material from a blood vessel, the device comprising:
 a catheter having a distal edge defining an opening that provides access to a lumen within the catheter; and   a tractor comprising a flexible, laser-cut metallic tube that at least partially covers and extends along an outer surface of the catheter and inverts over the catheter distal edge, such that a first end of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube extends through the opening into the lumen of the catheter,   wherein the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube comprises a plurality of engagement features cut into an outer surface of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube and through the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube to form a plurality of cutting edges and   wherein the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube is configured so that pulling the first end of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube proximally through the catheter lumen causes the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube to roll and invert over the catheter distal edge, thereby exposing the cutting edges distally as the flexible tube rolls into the catheter lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edges are aligned along a length of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edges are configured scrape the plaque material on a wall of the blood vessel when the first end of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube is pulled proximally through the catheter lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edges are configured to gouge the plaque material on a wall of the blood vessel when the first end of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube is pulled proximally through the catheter lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engagement features are arranged into a series of circumferential bands extending along a length of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube, such that the respective bands of engagement features pass sequentially over the distal edge of the catheter as the flexible tube rolls into the catheter lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a series of links, wherein each link of the series extends between respective adjacent bands of engagement features. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the links are arranged in a circumferentially offset pattern along the length of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the links are arranged in a circumferentially aligned pattern along the length of the flexible, laser-cut metallic tube. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features comprise a first set of features defined by having a first aspect ratio, and a second set of features defined by having a second aspect ratio that is different than the first aspect ratio. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features comprise a first set of features defined by having sharp engagement surfaces, and a second set of features defined by having curved engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein engagement features of a first set of the engagement features have a first shape configured for shoveling the plaque material, and engagement features of a second set of the engagement features have a second shape configured for gouging the plaque material. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein engagement features of a first set of the engagement features have a first shape configured for cutting the plaque material, and engagement features of a second set of the engagement features have a second shape configured for gouging the plaque material. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein engagement features of a first set of the engagement features have a first shape configured for cutting the plaque material, engagement features of a second set of the engagement features have a second shape configured for gouging the plaque material, and engagement features of a third set of the engagement features have a third shape configured for shoveling the plaque material. 
     
     
         14 . An atherectomy device for removing a plaque material from a blood vessel, comprising:
 a catheter having a distal edge that defines an opening that provides access to an internal lumen; and   a flexible tube that covers at least a portion of the distal edge and enters the internal lumen of the catheter, the flexible tube comprising a series of adjacent band regions extending radially around the flexible tube each band region comprising a plurality of metallic, laser-cut engagement features that are configured to engage with the plaque material, wherein the band regions are offset from each other along a length of the flexible tube so that the engagement features of adjacent band regions are offset from one another,   wherein when the device is activated, each of the engagement features passes over the distal edge such that the engagement features protrude from the distal edge to engage with and direct the plaque material toward the internal lumen.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement features of adjacent band regions are offset from one another long the length of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein each band region has three to five engagement features per centimeter length of the band region. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible tube has two to three bands per centimeter length of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible tube comprises a plurality of band connectors that connect the adjacent band regions. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the series of band regions form a continuous spiral around the flexible tube. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the band connectors are in an offset arrangement with respect to each other within the flexible tube. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the band connectors are in an aligned arrangement with respect to each other within the flexible tube. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a second portion of the band regions have an aligned arrangement where the engagement features of adjacent band regions are aligned with one another. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible tube comprises a plurality of fastening elements that couple the flexible tube to a puller that provides a pulling force to activate the device.