Device and method for removing tissue inside a body vessel

1. An intravascular tissue removal tool comprising: an elongated flexible sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the lumen having a distal lumen diameter near the distal end; a plurality of cutting elements fixedly attached to the flexible sheath and extending inward into the lumen near the distal end of the flexible sheath, each of the cutting elements having a sharpened edge extending in a circumferential direction and pointed towards the distal end of the flexible sheath; a forceps having an open state and a closed state, and further having an extended position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially outside the flexible sheath near the distal end and a retracted position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially inside the flexible sheath; and an elongated actuation member extending through the flexible sheath from the proximal end to the forceps, the actuation member being attached to the forceps for switching the forceps between the open state and the closed state and for moving the forceps between the extended state and the retracted state.

2. The tissue removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting elements are circumferentially distributed.

3. The tissue removal tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tubular ring proximate the distal end of the flexible sheath, the tubular ring carrying the cutting elements.

4. The tissue removal tool of claim 3 , wherein the tubular ring is inserted into the distal end of the flexible sheath.

5. The tissue removal tool of claim 3 , wherein the cutting elements are attached to the tubular ring.

6. The tissue removal tool of claim 3 , wherein the cutting elements are unitarily formed with the tubular ring.

7. The tissue removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member comprises a wire assembly with a sleeve and a core wire.

8. An intravascular tissue removal tool comprising:

an elongated flexible sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the lumen having a distal lumen diameter near the distal end;

cutting elements fixedly attached to the flexible sheath and extending inward into the lumen near the distal end of the flexible sheath, each of the cutting elements having a sharpened edge extending in a circumferential direction, each of the cutting elements being unitarily formed with a tubular ring proximate the distal end of the flexible sheath by at least one cut in the tubular ring, the at least one cut originating at the proximal end of the tubular ring, the cutting elements being bent radially inward into the tubular ring;

a forceps having an open state and a closed state, and further having an extended position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially outside the flexible sheath near the distal end and a retracted position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially inside the flexible sheath; and

an elongated actuation member extending through the flexible sheath from the proximal end to the forceps, the actuation member being attached to the forceps for switching the forceps between the open state and the closed state and for moving the forceps between the extended state and the retracted state.

9. The tissue removal tools of claim 8 , wherein each of the cutting elements is formed by a tab between two axial cuts originating at the proximal end of the tubular ring, the tab being bent toward the distal end of the tubular ring.

10. An intravascular tissue removal tool comprising:

an elongated flexible sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the lumen having a distal lumen diameter near the distal end;

cutting elements fixedly attached to the flexible sheath and extending inward into the lumen near the distal end of the flexible sheath, each of the cutting elements being hook-shaped with a tip of the hook pointing to the distal end of the flexible sheath and having a sharpened edge extending in a circumferential direction;

a forceps having an open state and a closed state, and further having an extended position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially outside the flexible sheath near the distal end and a retracted position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially inside the flexible sheath; and

an elongated actuation member extending through the flexible sheath from the proximal end to the forceps, the actuation member being attached to the forceps for switching the forceps between the open state and the closed state and for moving the forceps between the extended state and the retracted state.