Device with sharp and blunt regions for removing occlusions

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for disrupting material in a body vessel and a method for making such a device. The device includes a plurality of arms disposed circumferentially about an axis. Each arm includes two blades; one sharper, and one blunter. The sharper blades are all oriented in the same direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, such that when the device is rotated in a first direction, the sharper blades engage the material, and in the other, the duller blades engage the material.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for disrupting material in a body vessel, the method comprising:
 delivering a medical device comprising a body having a first blade having a first sharpness and a second blade having a second sharpness, wherein the first sharpness is different than the second sharpness;   rotating the body in a first circumferential direction such that first blade disrupts material in the body; and   rotating the body in a second circumferential direction, which opposes the first circumferential direction, such that the second blade disrupts material in the body by contacting the material at a different angle compared to the first blade.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the body comprises at least one arm, wherein the at least one arm comprises the first blade and the second blade. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first blade is disposed along the at least one arm at a location opposite the second blade. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first blade has an obtuse angle internal to the at least one arm, and the second blade has an acute angle internal to the at least one arm. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the body comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion spaced axially apart from the first tubular portion, and a plurality of arms extending between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, wherein the at least one arm having the first and second blades is among one of the plurality of arms. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises an identical design to the at least one arm having the first and second blades comprising the respective first and second sharpness,
 the method further comprising using each of the plurality of arms to disrupt material using their respective first blades when rotating the body in the first circumferential direction; and   using each of the plurality of arms to disrupt material using their respective second blades when rotating the body in the second circumferential direction.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the body comprises a malecot. 
     
     
         29 . A method for disrupting material in a body vessel, the method comprising:
 delivering a medical device comprising a body comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, extending from a first end to a second end and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, and wherein the body comprises a first blade and a second blade;   rotating the body in a first circumferential direction such that first blade disrupts material in the body; and   rotating the body in a second circumferential direction, which opposes the first circumferential direction, such that the second blade disrupts material in the body,   wherein at least one of the first blade and the second blade is oriented in a plane that does not intersect with the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first blade comprises a first sharpness that is different than a second sharpness of the second blade. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the body comprises at least one arm, wherein the at least one arm comprises the first blade and the second blade. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first blade has an obtuse angle internal to the at least one arm, and the second blade has an acute angle internal to the at least one arm. 
     
     
         33 . A method of making a medical device for disrupting material in a body vessel, the method comprising:
 making a first cut in a tubular body, the tubular body comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and extending from a first end to a second end and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the first cut originating between the first end and the second end and terminating between the first end and the second end;   making a second cut in the tubular body offset from the first cut to define a first arm between the first and second cuts, the second cut originating between the first end and the second end and terminating between the first end and the second end;   wherein the first arm comprises a first blade defined by the first cut and having a first sharpness, and a second blade defined by the second cut and having a second sharpness;   wherein at least one of the first cut and the second cut is made in a plane which does not intersect the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first sharpness is different than the second sharpness. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein a plurality of first cuts and a plurality of second cuts are made in the tubular body, thereby defining a plurality of arms between each first cut and its corresponding second cut. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of arms each comprises a first blade in the same relative orientation in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising displacing a portion of each of the plurality of arms radially outward. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first cut and the second cut intersect at the inner surface of the tubular body. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first cut is made at a first angle relative to the outer surface of the tubular body, and the second cut is made at a second angle different from the first angle. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each of the first cut and the second cut are formed by a laser. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first cut is formed with the laser oriented at two or more different angles relative to the tubular body along a length of the first cut.