Patent ID: 6638233
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter for removing material from a body lumen, said catheter comprising:a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a material capture device arranged on said catheter body to engage said material; and a cutting element mounted near the distal end of the catheter body to move between a first position and a second position to cut said material while said material is engaged by said material capture device, wherein motion of the cutting element urges the material capture device to draw cut material into the catheter body; wherein said material capture device is coupled to the cutting element to advance along a path outwardly from the catheter body into said material and then inwardly towards the catheter body to tension said material; and said cutting element on said catheter body moving between said first position and said second position to cut said material while in tension.