PAUL HENRY ZANETTI
Medical Practice in Corpus Christi, TX

4883460, Nov 28, 1989

Apr 25, 1988

7/185435

Paul H. Zanetti - Corpus Christi TX

A61B 1720

604 22

A technique for removing plaque from blood vessel includes passing a wire saw-catheter assembly through an artery to a location adjacent an area of plaque buildup. The wire saw is then moved out of the end of the catheter into engagement with the plaque buildup. The wire saw is reciprocated through a stroke of 0. 01-4 millimeters at a rate of between 3,000-30,000 cycles per second. In one embodiment, the wire saw is straight while a second embodiment of the wire saw includes a a curved end. In both embodiments, a triangularly shaped cutting element is helically wound about the tube end. The cutting element reciprocates against and comminutes the relatively hard plaque without damaging the relatively soft blood vessel. The debris produced by the action of the wire saw is removed by a variety of techniques causing liquid flow back through the catheter including: (1) delivering a quantity of liquid through the end of the cutting tool, (2) applying suction to the catheter, and (3) blocking flow in the artery at an effective location. The technique also disintegrates and removes other hard, relatively immobile deposits from ducts, such as gall or kidney stones.

4750487, Jun 14, 1988

Nov 24, 1986

6/934116

Paul H. Zanetti - Corpus Christi TX

A61B 1700

128303B

A stereo tactic frame for use with fluoroscopy is utilized to aim and guide a puncturing tool to a target located within a body. An aperture within the frame is positioned to overlie the target when viewed on a fluoroscopic image display. The frame is then rotated about two axes so that the aperture plane is made perpendicular to the beam passing through the aperture, wherein the center of the aperture is made to align with the target object.