Atherectomy device

Abstract

An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel including an outer member and a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member. The outer member is fixed axially. A rotatable tip is mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the shaft. The rotatable shaft includes a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.

1 . An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel comprising:
 a housing;   an outer member extending from the housing and having a distal end, the outer member axially fixed with respect to the housing;
 a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member, the rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal region and a distalmost edge; and 
   a rotatable tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rotatable tip positioned distally of a distalmost edge of the outer member to create a gap between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member, the rotatable tip having a longitudinal axis and mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft including a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auger positioned on the rotatable shaft, the auger positioned proximally of the rotatable tip and extending along the rotatable shaft, wherein rotation of the rotatable shaft rotates the auger to move deposits macerated by the rotatable tip proximally into the outer member. 
     
     
         3 . The atherectomy device of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the auger is exposed between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member. 
     
     
         4 . The atherectomy device of  claim 2 , wherein the auger is positioned within the outer member such that it is not exposed between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member. 
     
     
         5 . The atherectomy device of  claim 2 , further comprising a coating over at least a portion of the rotatable shaft and auger. 
     
     
         6 . The atherectomy device of  claim 5 , wherein the coating covers an exposed portion of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor for rotating the rotatable shaft, the motor positioned within the housing, and the rotatable shaft operatively connected to the motor. 
     
     
         8 . The atherectomy device of  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes an aspiration port extending therefrom to remove particles. 
     
     
         9 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , wherein particles are aspirated through the outer member in a space between the rotatable shaft and an inner wall of the outer member. 
     
     
         10 . The atherectomy device of  claim 2 , wherein particles are aspirated through the outer member in a space between the rotatable shaft and an inner wall of the outer member. 
     
     
         11 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , wherein the gap between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member creates a fixed spacing. 
     
     
         12 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member includes a hub fixedly mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft terminates within the tip. 
     
     
         14 . The atherectomy device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable tip is positioned proximal of the distalmost edge of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel
 comprising the steps of: providing an introducer sheath having an internal diameter; providing a deposit removal device including an outer member, a rotatable shaft and a rotatable   tip at a distal portion of the rotatable shaft, the outer member axially fixed to maintain a   fixed spacing between a distal end of the outer member and a proximal end of the rotatable   tip; inserting the introducer sheath through a skin incision and into a vessel; advancing the   rotatable tip adjacent the deposits to be removed; actuating a motor to rotate the rotatable tip at high speed by rotation of the rotatable shaft to   contact and remove the deposits, the rotatable tip rotating to remove deposits; and aspirating deposits through a space in the outer member between the rotatable shaft and an inner   wall of the outer member during rotation of the rotatable shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rotatable shaft has an auger thereon, and the step of rotating the rotatable shaft causes the auger to direct deposits proximally within the outer member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of aspirating deposits includes applying a vacuum to aspirate direct deposits proximally that are removed by rotational movement of the tip. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of aspirating deposits includes applying a vacuum to aspirate direct deposits proximally that are removed by rotational movement of the tip. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of inserting the rotatable tip over a guidewire. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outer member is axially fixed to a motor housing.