A tissue-removing catheter includes a cutter having an axial cavity and an opening extending from the axial cavity through the cutter to allow tissue removed from the body lumen by the annular cutting edge to pass proximally through the opening. A cutter driveshaft defines a tissue-transport passage extending longitudinally therein and in communication with the axial cavity of the cutter. A screw blade extends longitudinally within the tissue-transport passage and includes an external helical thread for transporting removed tissue proximally within the tissue-transport passage as the screw blade rotates about its axis. The cutter driveshaft having a distal end portion operatively coupled to the cutter for driving rotation of the cutter.

Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.

A cleaning device for cleaning a catheter lumen of a tissue removal catheter has a flushing chamber with distal and proximal seals and an inlet port. The proximal seal is a duckbill seal that includes a pair of opposing duckbill members that slidingly accept the distal end portion of a catheter body to form a seal about the catheter body proximal to a proximal opening in of the catheter lumen. Fluid is directed in the inlet port, into the flushing chamber, into proximal opening in the catheter body, and through the catheter lumen to discharge tissue contained in the catheter lumen. In some embodiments, the cleaning device is preloaded on the catheter body. The cleaning device can have an internal stop that engages with an external stop on the catheter body when the cleaning device is positioned in an operative position.

Imaging apparatus, atherectomy devices, systems, and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. The imaging apparatus further comprises one or more light transmittable windows defined along the dividing layer and a catheter outlet port defined along a ventral side of the catheter body. The catheter outlet port allows the guidewire to advance out of the second catheter lumen and the catheter outlet port is aligned with at least one of the light transmittable windows such that the guidewire is within a field of view of the imaging component when the guidewire extends partially though the catheter outlet port. The atherectomy device can comprise a tubular housing and an inflatable balloon coupled to an exterior side of the tubular housing. The tubular housing includes a cutting window and a rotatable cutter configured to debulk the atherosclerotic material extending into the cutting window. The inflatable balloon can comprise a lumen in fluid communication with the housing lumen such that fluid introduced into the housing lumen via the catheter lumen inflates the inflatable balloon.

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen during a cutting operation includes an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen and a tissue-removing element. A motor is operably connected to the tissue-removing element for rotating the tissue-removing element. A sensor is configured to detect a parameter of the catheter body during the cutting operation. A motor control circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor and the motor. During an operational control function, the motor control circuit is configured to receive a signal from the sensor based at least in part on the detected parameter, determine whether the received signal is indicative of inefficient movement of the tissue-removing element, and adjust a rotational speed of the tissue-removing element to increase efficiency of the tissue-removing element if the received signal is indicative of inefficient movement of the tissue-removing element.

A catheter is provided, which includes a cutting element having one or more raised elements. The cutting element has a cup-shaped surface at the distal end that may be smooth and continuous except for the raised elements.

A tissue-removing catheter includes an elongate catheter body. The catheter body has a jogged portion that applies an urge force against a body lumen wall and urges a portion of the catheter body toward a portion of the body lumen wall. A tissue-removing element removes tissue from the body lumen during the cutting operation. The tissue-removing element is located generally adjacent the portion of the catheter body that is urged toward the body lumen wall by the jogged portion. An urging mechanism selectively applies a compressive load to the catheter body to adjust the bending stiffness of the jogged portion and the urge force applied by the jogged portion.

A cleaning device for cleaning a catheter lumen of a tissue removal catheter has a flushing chamber with distal and proximal seals and an inlet port. The proximal seal is a duckbill seal that includes a pair of opposing duckbill members that slidingly accept the distal end portion of a catheter body to form a seal about the catheter body proximal to a proximal opening in of the catheter lumen. Fluid is directed in the inlet port, into the flushing chamber, into proximal opening in the catheter body, and through the catheter lumen to discharge tissue contained in the catheter lumen. In some embodiments, the cleaning device is preloaded on the catheter body. The cleaning device can have an internal stop that engages with an external stop on the catheter body when the cleaning device is positioned in an operative position.

This transcatheter device for the ablation of calcified tissue at the flaps of an aortic valve, is characterized in that it comprises a flexible body (1) acting as a catheter and having a soft and flexible end piece (2) that engages with a previously inserted wire guide (g) suitable for passing through the flaps of the valve above the part where the calcified tissue needs to be removed, said end piece (2) having at least one cutting system (3) comprising two motorized rotating cutting heads (3a) and (3b) disposed coaxially one above the other, the head (3a) located at the end of the end piece and acting first to remove the calcified tissue, has arrangements suitable for making a rough cut by grinding, while the other head (3b) has arrangements suitable for making a fine cut by grinding, said cutting system being mounted in combination with a vacuum suction means (4), said end piece (2) being provided with an adjustable guide means (5) suitable for engaging with the calcified tissue over the course of the ablation operation performed by the cutting system (3) in combination with a spiral path effect applied to the end piece.

An atherectomy catheter device includes an elongate body, a drive shaft extending proximally to distally within the elongate body, and a cutter attached to the drive shaft. The cutter includes a serrated annular cutting edge formed on a distal edge of the cutter and a recessed bowl extending radially inwards from the annular cutting edge to a center of the cutter. The recessed bowl has a first curvature. The cutter further includes a plurality of grinding segments extending inwardly from the distal edge within the bowl. Each of the plurality of segments has a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.