Rotational atherectomy device with exchangeable drive shaft and meshing gears

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9883887-B2
Application number	US-201414492746-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 25, 2013
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

An atherectomy device with an exchangeable drive shaft is disclosed, having a drive shaft gear at a distal end of the exchangeable drive shaft for meshing engagement with a prime mover gear on the output shaft of the prime mover. The exchangeable drive shaft is inserted into an opening at the distal end of the handle housing and moved axially in a proximal direction. Surface features on at least the prime mover housing and the engageable drive shaft help to align the drive shaft gear with the prime mover gear for meshing engagement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
an exchangeable drive shaft cartridge, comprising a nosecone at a distal end thereof;
a handle comprising an opening at a distal end thereof, the handle configured for receiving therewithin at least a portion of the drive shaft cartridge proximal of the nosecone inserted through the opening;
at least one connector for removably attaching the distal end of the handle and the nosecone to each other, the at least one connector comprising complementary first and second sections, wherein
the first section of the at least one connector is integrally formed with the handle; and
the second section of the at least one connector is integrally formed with the nosecone;

a gear engagement assembly at a proximal end of the drive shaft cartridge, the gear engagement assembly comprising a drive shaft gear;
a prime mover carriage disposed within an interior of the handle, the prime mover carriage comprising a prime mover gear;
an alignment element with a first section comprising an elongated biasing and alignment element comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element attached to the drive shaft cartridge at a location that is distal to the gear engagement assembly, the elongated biasing and alignment element extending proximally and configured to extend away from the gear engagement assembly in the absence of external force applied to the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element, wherein when force is applied to the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element may be displaced toward the gear engagement assembly and a spring force is stored in the elongated biasing and alignment element urging the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element away from the gear engagement assembly;
the alignment element further comprising a second section disposed on the handle and comprising an indent configured for removably receiving the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element and inhibiting displacement of the drive shaft cartridge in the proximal direction within the handle when the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element is received within the indent of the second section of the alignment element.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector is a snap-fit connector, a tongue and groove connector, a bayonet connector, a rotatable connector, a ramped connector, rails or ribs.

3. The device of claim 1 , comprising a self-releasing locking mechanism configured for:
retaining the prime mover carriage at a first location proximate the distal end of the handle when:
the prime mover gear and the drive shaft gear are un-meshed; and
the prime mover carriage and the gear engagement assembly are detached from each other; and

releasing the prime mover carriage from the first location when:
the prime mover gear and the drive shaft gear are removably meshed with each other; and
the prime mover carriage and the gear engagement assembly are removably attached to each other.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein:
the prime mover carriage is displaced to a second location when the handle and the nosecone are displaced towards each other after the prime mover carriage has been released from the first location;
the at least one connector is operable for attaching/detaching the handle and the nosecone to/from each other when the prime mover carriage is at the second location;
the at least one connector is rendered inoperable for detaching the handle and the nosecone when the prime mover carriage is not at the second location; and
the prime mover carriage is displaced from the second location to the first location and retained thereat when the handle and the nosecone are detached from each other and separated.

5. The device of claim 4 , comprising a release mechanism operable for un-meshing the prime mover gear and the drive shaft gear from each other and for detaching the prime mover carriage and the gear engagement assembly from each other when the prime mover carriage is at the first location, wherein:
operating the release mechanism enables extraction of the gear engagement assembly from the handle; and
the release mechanism is inoperable when the prime mover carriage is not at the first location.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein releasing the prime mover carriage from the first location enables concurrent longitudinal displacement of the prime mover carriage and the gear engagement assembly within the interior of the handle.

7. The device of claim 1 , comprising;
a telescoping lumen having at least a first section and a second section configured for slideable movement of one within the other, wherein:
a proximal end of the first section of the telescoping lumen is fixedly attached to the gear engagement assembly; and
a distal end of the second section of the telescoping lumen is fixedly attached to the nosecone; and

a drive shaft comprising a proximal end fixedly attached to the drive shaft gear, the drive shaft extending distally within the lumen and through a hole in the nosecone.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein
the lumen is inhibited from telescoping when the handle and the nosecone are detached from each other; and
the lumen is enabled for telescoping when the handle and the nosecone are attached to each other.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one connector is rendered inoperable for detaching the handle and the nosecone while the lumen is telescoped.

10. The device of claim 7 , comprising an elongated lumen support extending distally from the gear engagement assembly, the support comprising a distal end configured for removable attachment with the nosecone.

11. The device of claim 1 , comprising a control knob having at least a portion thereof extending through a longitudinally extending slot in a side of the handle, the control knob operatively coupled with the prime mover carriage such that a longitudinal displacement of one of the control knob and the prime mover carriage induces a longitudinal displacement of the other, the control knob comprising:
an unlocked state for permitting the longitudinal displacement of the control knob; and
a locked state for inhibiting the longitudinal displacement of the control knob.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the elongated biasing and alignment element and the indent of the second section of the alignment element comprise complementary configurations.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the prime mover gear and drive shaft gear are aligned when the proximal end of the biasing and alignment element is removably received within the indent of the second section of the alignment element.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein when the prime move gear and drive shaft gear are aligned, the spring force stored within the elongated biasing and alignment element causes the prime move gear to mesh with the drive shaft gear.

Assignees

• Cardivascular Systems

Inventors

• Rydberg Nicholas W
• Smith Gregory H
• Potts Blake G

Classifications

• A61B90/98

  using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders · CPC title

• A61B17/320758 Primary

  with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven (A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00991

  Telescopic means · CPC title

• A61B2017/00473

  Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title