US 11,925,380 B2
Distal end supported tissue slitting apparatus
Ryan Michael Sotak, Colorado Springs, CO (US); Michael Craig Anderson, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and Kenneth P. Grace, Woodland Park, CO (US)
Assigned to SPECTRANETICS LLC, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed by SPECTRANETICS LLC, Colorado Springs (CO)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/950,196.
Application 16/950,196 is a continuation of application No. 14/192,445, filed on Feb. 27, 2014, granted, now 10,835,279.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/784,203, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0068859 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/3205 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/3207 (2006.01); A61B 17/3209 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3205 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32053 (2013.01); A61B 17/320725 (2013.01); A61B 17/320016 (2013.01); A61B 17/3207 (2013.01); A61B 17/3209 (2013.01); A61N 2001/0578 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tissue slitting device comprising:
a shaft having a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and an inner lumen extending substantially through the shaft;
an actuation guide comprising a track, wherein the track comprises a linear portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a non-linear portion proximal to the linear portion;
a cutting edge at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the cutting edge pivots on a pin that follows the track of the actuation guide; and
a support element having a tapered outer surface and a lumen running therethrough, wherein the lumen of the support element is in communication with the inner lumen of the shaft.