Patent ID: 6328749
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A remote endarterectomy instrument comprising:an elongate shaft having distal and proximal ends;a ring, having an open interior, mounted at the distal end of the elongate shaft; andan intima cutter assembly comprising:a cutting element, attached to the instrument at a position at the ring and being at least partially housed inside the ring, being movable along a cutting path across at least a portion of a cutting region angularly about said position at the ring, said cutting region passing through the open interior of said ring; anda cutting element actuator having a first end, located towards the proximal end of the shaft, operably coupled to the cutting element, said first end comprising a user-actuated manipulator to permit a user to cause the cutting element to move along the cutting path so as to cut an intima passing through the open interior of the ring.