Patent ID: 6030397
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A miniaturized medical brush for use in a body lumen comprising:an elongated, brush drive shaft having a shaft axis and extending between a proximal drive shaft end and a distal drive shaft end, the brush drive shaft having a proximal drive shaft section and a distal drive shaft section adjacent the distal drive shaft end having a shaft outer surface and shaft circumference, the brush drive shaft adapted to be rotated from the proximal drive shaft end about the shaft axis; anda brush comprising:a proximal spiral winding of proximal brush bristles extending around the outer surface circumference of the distal drive shaft section and outward from the shaft surface at a projection angle to the shaft surface, the spiral winding of proximal brush bristles formed by a first planar sheet of thin, rigid material that is shaped into a first elongated, planar mounting web having a first web length and a first web width between a side edge and a base with a plurality of first fringe elements extending at a first fringe angle from the side edge of the first mounting web;means for mounting the first mounting web mounted to the outer surface circumference of the distal drive section in a first spiral path enabling the fringe elements to extend outwardly from the spiral path to form proximal brush bristles which impel fluids in a distal direction when the brush drive shaft is rotated about the shaft axis in a first direction;a distal spiral winding of distal brush bristles extending around the outer surface circumference of the distal drive shaft section and extending outward from the shaft surface at a projection angle thereto, the distal spiral winding of distal brush bristles formed by a second planar sheet of thin, rigid material that is shaped into a second elongated, planar mounting web having a second web length and a second web width between a side edge and a base with a plurality of fringe elements extending at a fringe angle from the side edge of the second mounting web; andmeans for mounting the second mounting web to the outer surface circumference of the distal drive section in a second spiral path enabling the fringe elements to extend outwardly from the spiral path to form the brush bristles which impel fluids in a proximal direction when the brush drive shaft is rotated about the shaft axis in said first direction.