Claims
- 1. An apparatus for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the apparatus comprising:
a catheter for insertion into the vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; a moveable member disposed within the lumen; at least one helically twisted flexible strut fixedly connected to the catheter wall and to the moveable member; and a membrane operably connected to the at least one flexible strut to form a trap, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the moveable member actuates the trap between a helically twisted contracted position and a helically twisted expanded position.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a balloon operably connected to the catheter and adapted to compress an obstruction.
- 3. The angioplasty device of claim 2, wherein the catheter further defines an inflation/deflation lumen fluidly connected to the balloon.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
the trap has a distal end; the catheter defines at least one suction aperture situated between the balloon and the distal end of the trap; and the catheter comprises a suction lumen in operable communication with the at least one suction aperture.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the helically twisted contracted position forms a waist.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trap is actuated by relative longitudinal motion between the catheter wall and the moveable member.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trap is actuated by relative rotational motion between the catheter wall and the moveable member.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trap is actuated by relative rotational and longitudinal motion between the catheter wall and the moveable member.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable member defines a guidewire lumen adapted to slidably receive a guidewire.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guidewire is hollow.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut forms a profile having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first radius of curvature and the second portion has a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature causing the first portion to contract first to form a cocoon.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut includes a first portion and a second portion.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first portion is formed to be thinner than the second portion causing the first portion to contract first to form a cocoon.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first portion is formed of a material more resilient than the second portion causing the first portion to contract first to form a cocoon.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a cross section of the first portion has a smaller moment of inertia than a cross section of the second portion with a larger moment of inertia, causing the first portion to contract first to form a cocoon.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coupling device that selectively couples the trap to the catheter wall.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of helically twisted flexible struts.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a handle to provide longitudinal and rotational movement of the moveable member for actuating the trap.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable member is a guidewire having a solid first portion and a second portion that includes a suction lumen.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the suction lumen has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/718,732, filed Nov. 22, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/495,833, filed Feb. 1, 2000, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09718732 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10163077 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09495833 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
09718732 |
Nov 2000 |
US |