Patent ID: 6129734
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A61B,F16D

Abstract:
A rotational atherectomy device comprising:a. an exchangeable drive shaft cartridge comprising a rotatable drive shaft socket carried by a drive shaft carriage; a longitudinally extendable tube extending distally from the drive shaft carriage; an elongated catheter having a proximal end portion which is operatively connected to a distal end portion of the longitudinally extendable tube; and a rotatable flexible drive shaft having proximal, intermediate and distal portions, the proximal portion being attached to the drive shaft socket, the intermediate portion being disposed primarily within the tube and the catheter, and the distal portion extending distally from the catheter and having a tissue removal implement;b. a rotatable, radially expandable prime mover coupling connected to a prime mover for rotation therewith, the prime mover being carried by a prime mover carriage and the prime mover coupling including a radially expandable portion;the drive shaft socket being sized to receive a length of the radially expandable portion of the prime mover coupling therein such that the radially expandable portion of the prime mover coupling does not effectively engage an interior surface of the drive shaft socket when the coupling is not rotating, but the radially expandable portion of the prime mover coupling radially expands to effectively engage the socket upon sufficiently rapid rotation of the prime mover, causing the socket and the drive shaft to rotate together with the prime mover coupling and the prime mover,whereby when the prime mover is not rotating, the drive shaft is disconnected from the prime mover, thereby permitting the exchangeable drive shaft cartridge to be replaced by another exchangeable drive shaft cartridge.