Patent ID: 8361094
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for cutting and removing occlusive material from a body lumen, the method comprising: providing a vascular device comprising manipulating the proximal end of the catheter body to insert the distal end of the catheter body within the body lumen, manipulating the proximal end of the catheter body to advance the distal end of the catheter body within the body lumen toward the occlusive material, operating the drive mechanism to rotate the helical cutting blade about the central axis to cut occlusive material at the distal end of the catheter body, to convey the occlusive material from the body lumen proximally into the housing, and to convey the occlusive material conveyed into the housing by the helical cutting blade further proximally along the catheter body by the conveyor mechanism for discharge without supplement of a vacuum pump, operating the deflecting mechanism at the proximal end of the catheter body to deflect the distal end of the catheter body relative to the center axis of the catheter body to point the cutter assembly toward a side of the body lumen without necessitating axial advancement of the cutter body in the body lumen, and rotating the distal end of the catheter body when the distal end is deflected to sweep the cutter assembly in an arc about the center axis to cut occlusive material in a region larger than the outside diameter of the cutter assembly, wherein rotating the distal end of the catheter body comprises operating a torque control device separate from the deflecting mechanism to manually or automatically control the sweep of the cutter assembly.