Importance

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Abstract

A catheter is provided for removing occlusive material from the stenosis of a blood vessel. The catheter comprises a flexible outer tube and a flexible rotatable inner tube which is concentric with and spaced radially inward of the outer tube forming a channel between the two tubes through which liquid is supplied to the vessel. Hollow cutting means are connected to the rotatable inner tube and are positioned within the free end of the catheter to avoid contact of the cutting means with the blood vessel. The fluid flowing in the channel between the tubes to the blood vessel is capable of dissolving and dislodging the stenosis material where it is entrained in the fluid. The entrained stenosis material is cut into smaller pieces and withdrawn as the fluid is sucked through the hollow cutting means and out through the inner tube. The catheter is additionally provided with means for viewing the condition of the blood vessel interior throughout the procedure.

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First Claim