Generating gentler toolpaths

摘要

Removing debris from a tubular structure seems fairly straightfor-ward-except when that structure is a person's blood vessel. To avoid the possibility of having to amputate a leg when a blood vessel becomes clogged with disease, such as atherosclerotic debris and thrombus, Pathway Medical Technologies Inc. has developed the Pathway PV system. The system removes both hard and soft diseased tissue with minimal damage to the vessel wall. Ten scraping flutes with five retractable "blades" that are only exposed when the device rotates in one direction remove the diseased tissue and ports between the scraping flutes aspirate the debris. The product is undergoing clinical trials and is not yet commercially available.