A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a shaft (105), a balloon (115) positioned at the distal end of the shaft (105), and at least one longitudinal scoring wire (135) to score a vascular lesion attached to the distal end of the shaft (105), disposed over the balloon (115). The shaft (105) includes a support (119), such as a wire or tube having one or more spirally cut portions (119A, 119B), which improves pushability and trackability, thereby allowing for use with an external guidewire in a “short rapid exchange” (SRX) format. The balloon (115) expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon (115) through the inflation lumen. This expansion pushes the scoring wire and guidewire against the vascular lesion.

A power tool for removing an intervertebral disc and preparing vertebral endplates is described. The power tool may include a cutting element, and the height of the cutting element may be adjustable. The cutting element may be a braided cable and may include one or more beads to enhance the effectiveness of the cable. The cutting element may have a minimum height requirement, which may not be satisfied in patients with a collapsed disc due to degenerative disc disorder. For these patients, also described are bone tamps for increasing the intervertebral distance and providing access to tissues distal to the tamp. One type of bone tamp features an inflatable balloon with an inner lumen. Another type of bone tamp includes an expanding distal end and an inner cannula. Also described is a manual expander scraper tool that is compatible with both types of bone tamp.

A catheter (10) for introduction into a body vessel includes a shaft, a balloon (12) positioned at the distal end of the shaft, and at least one scoring wire (30) to score a vascular lesion. A distal end portion of the scoring wire is detachably connected to the catheter, such as by way of magnetic coupling (30a), thereby allowing for selective use of the catheter in a scoring or non-scoring configuration. The balloon expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon through an inflation lumen. This expansion pushes the scoring wire against the vascular lesion.

An intravascular device, such as s guidewire device, includes a hollow proximal section and a hollow distal section joined to the proximal section and extending distally from the proximal section to form a continuous lumen extending from a proximal end of the device to a distal end of the device. An inner member extends from the proximal end to the distal end and is joined to the distal end. The inner member is translatable within the lumen in response to applied tension. At least the distal section includes a micro-fabricated cutting pattern that enables deflection of the distal end in response to the application of tension to the inner member.

An apparatus for treating a lesion in a vasculature has a catheter shaft (12) with a plurality of openings (16), which may be axially spaced. One or more cutters (18,18′) are adapted for moving from a retraced position to a deployed position projecting from one of the plurality of openings for cutting the lesion, such as by being biased toward the opening and retracting upon engaging a leading edge thereof when the support is advanced proximally. A shaft forming part of the catheter may include a plurality of lateral openings and a plurality of cutters. The cutter(s) may be attached to a support adapted for moving independently within the shaft from a first position in which the cutter(s) move to a deployed position to project from a corresponding one of the plurality of openings for cutting the lesion. Related methods are also disclosed.

A catheter having a tubular body and a rotatable shaft disposed within a lumen of the tubular body. A cutting element is coupled to the rotatable shaft, the cutting element having a cutting edge, the cutting element and rotatable shaft being longitudinally moveable within the tubular body between a stored position in which the cutting element is parallel a longitudinal axis of the tubular body and a cutting position in which the cutting element is deflected between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular body to extend beyond an outer diameter of the tubular body. The cutting element is configured to cut material from the wall of a vessel at a treatment site as the catheter is pushed distally through the treatment site. The catheter includes a collection chamber positioned proximally of the cutting window.

The invention provides a filter assembly including a string or wire such that a lasso type cincture is effected, said filter being openable and closeable while in deployed within a bodily vessel. A string lengthen or shorting adjustment mechanism, such as a ratchet or reel allows more length of string into the device or alternatively to shorten the length of available string in the system. The described invention, when used to ameliorate venous clots and most arterio-venous dialysis grafts, a filter-tipped aspirator is used downstream from the clot to capture and remove dislocated emboli. A method of using same is disclosed.

A tissue removal device including customizable tips and method of use thereof. The tissue removal device may include an outer shaft having a removable tip attached to the outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft extending through the outer shaft and having a rotatable cutting portion extending from the inner shaft. Disc material may be cut and removed from a surgical area using an auger-like and/or suction mechanism to facilitate the transfer of removed tissue away from the surgical area.

The present invention provides a system and method for treating artery having atherosclerosis. The system comprises a flexible device for wrapping around the diseased artery, at least an imaging fiber and/or an ablation fiber removably adapted on the inner side of the flexible device for imaging and/or treating the said artery and a controller for controlling the process of imaging or treatment on the said artery.

A medical device for treating an aneurysm in a blood vessel includes a hollow shaft for insertion into the blood vessel, an exit port at a distal end of the shaft, a deflection element, and a position sensor. The hollow shaft encompasses a wire-insertion channel for leading a wire to be inserted into the aneurysm. The exit port is configured for exiting the wire from the wire-insertion channel and into the aneurysm. The deflection element is located adjacent to the exit port and configured to deflect the wire from the wire-insertion channel to the exit port. The position sensor, which is coupled to the distal end of the shaft, is configured to produce signals indicative of a position and orientation of the exit port in the blood vessel.