Abstract:
Devices, methods, kits, and methods remove obstructive material from the vasculature and other body lumens. Expansible baskets may be used as cooperating radially expansible shearing members. Helically oriented struts of each basket may wind in a uniform circumferential direction. The struts can be independently flexible, allowing the shearing members to flex axially together. The inner basket may be rotatably driven and may use an axial pump extending proximally from the shearing members and/or a distal penetrator for advancing into an occlusion which inhibits guidewire access. The struts may slide substantially continuously across each other, and may be sufficiently aggressive for highly effective thrombectomy. A rotationally static and axially flexible outer basket may provide a safe, limited atherectomy treatment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a division of, and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Ser. No. 09/820,301 (Attorney Docket No. 19744P-001010US), which claims the benefit of priority from Provisional Application No. 60/193,539 filed Mar. 31, 2000 (Attorney Docket No. 19744P-001000US), and from Provisional Application No. 60/260,170 filed Jan. 4, 2001 (Attorney Docket No. 19744P-001200), the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    NOT APPLICABLE  
         REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK.  
         [0003]    NOT APPLICABLE  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to devices and methods for disrupting, collecting, and removing thrombus and/or other occlusive material from blood vessels and other body lumens. In other embodiments, the present invention relates to devices and methods for placement of guidewires, often for subsequent removal of unwanted tissue, thrombus, atheroma, fluid, polyps, cysts or other obstructive matter from natural and artificial body lumens such as blood vessels, grafts, implanted stenosed stents, ureters, bile ducts or fallopian tubes.  
           [0006]    Thrombosis and atherosclerosis are common ailments which occur in humans and which result from the deposition of thrombus and clot on the walls of blood vessels. When hardened, such deposits are commonly referred to as plaque. Such deposits are most common in the peripheral blood vessels that feed the limbs of the human body and the coronary arteries which feed the heart. Stasis, incompetent valves, and trauma in the venous circulation cause thrombosis, particularly occurring as a deep vein thrombosis in the peripheral vasculature. When such deposits build-up in localized regions of the blood vessel, they can restrict blood flow and cause a serious health risk.  
           [0007]    In addition to forming in the natural vasculature, thrombosis is a serious problem in “artificial” blood vessels, particularly in peripheral femoral-popliteal and coronary bypass grafts and dialysis access grafts and fistulas. The creation of such artificial blood vessels generally involves anastomotic attachment at at least one, and usually at at least two, locations in the vasculature. Such sites of an anastomotic attachment are particularly susceptible to thrombus formation due to narrowing caused by intimal hyperplasia, and thrombus formation at these sites is a frequent cause of failure of the implanted graft or fistula. The arteriovenous grafts and fistulas which are used for dialysis access are significantly compromised by thrombosis at the sites of anastomotic attachment and elsewhere. Thrombosis often occurs to such an extent that the graft needs to be replaced within a few years or, in the worst cases, a few months.  
           [0008]    A variety of methods have been developed for treating thrombosis and atherosclerosis in the coronary and peripheral vasculature as well as in implanted grafts and fistulas. Such techniques include surgical procedures, such as coronary artery bypass grafting, and minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty, atherectomy, transmyocardial revasculaturization, and the like. In many of the surgical clinical approaches to removing unwanted material, the treatment site is accessed directly through a surgical incision. Of particular interest of the present invention, a variety of techniques generally described as “thrombectomy” have been developed. Thrombectomy generally refers to procedures for the removal of relatively soft thrombus and clot from the vasculature. Removal is usually achieved by mechanically disrupting the clot, optionally with the introduction of thrombolytic agents. The disrupted thrombus or clot is then withdrawn through a catheter, typically with a vacuum or mechanical transport device.  
           [0009]    Thrombectomy generally differs from angioplasty and atherectomy in the type of occlusive material which is being treated and in the desire to avoid damage to the blood vessel wall. The material removed in most thrombectomy procedures is relatively soft, such as the clot formed in deep vein thrombosis, and is usually not hardened plaque of the type treated by angioplasty in the coronary vasculature. Moreover, it is usually an objective of thrombectomy procedures to have minimum or no deleterious interaction with the blood vessel wall. Ideally, the clot will be disrupted and pulled away from the blood vessel wall with no harmful effect on the wall itself.  
           [0010]    While successful thrombectomy procedures have been achieved, most have required comprise between complete removal of the thrombosis and minimum injury to the blood vessel wall. While more aggressive thrombectomy procedures employing rotating blades can be very effective at thrombus removal, they can present a significant risk of injury to the blood vessel wall. Alternatively, those which rely primarily on vacuum extraction together with minimum disruption of the thrombus, often fail to achieve sufficient thrombus removal.  
           [0011]    In work related to the present invention, an expansible macerator for safely breaking up or disrupting thrombus and other occlusive materials has been proposed. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,517 filed on Dec. 6, 1999 and entitled “Systems and Methods for Clot Disruption and Retrieval,” describes a catheter having an expansible positioning cage and a helical macerator positioned within the cage. The macerator can be separated from the surrounding cage so as to maintain separation between the macerator and a surrounding wall of the body lumen. This caged macerator represents a significant advancement in the art, as it allows disruption of soft clot while inhibiting trauma to blood vessels of varying diameters. However, as with all advances, still further improvements would be desirable. In particular, it may be beneficial to provide more aggressive and more rapid removal of clot material. It would also be helpful to allow the physician to selectively and controllably remove plaque or other more solid occlusive material during a thrombectomy, preferably using the thrombectomy catheter. It may also be beneficial to more uniformly urge the severed debris toward an aspiration port of the thrombectomy catheter. Finally, it may also be beneficial to find additional beneficial uses for similar and/or related catheter structures.  
           [0012]    As mentioned, atherectomy has been proposed for treatment of the hardened plaque of atherosclerosis. Atherectomy may also remove occlusive tissues proliferating from the vessel wall. While a variety of atherectomy structures and devices have been proposed, and although a variety of atherectomy structures have been made commercially available on the market, the efficacy and use of atherectomy has remained somewhat limited, particularly when compared to alternative treatments for stenotic disease.  
           [0013]    Many of the vascular catheter devices recently developed for fragmentation and removal of plaque and/or thrombus, and for other intraluminal and intravascular procedures, are inserted percutaneously through a puncture in the skin. For example, a catheter device may be inserted into a blood vessel at some distance away from the intended treatment site, and can then be advanced through the vessel lumen until the selected location is reached. In most instances this approach is performed “over the wire,” a technique in which the physician first places a guidewire device into the vessel lumen, so that the larger treatment catheter device can be tracked over the guidewire. In many cases the vessel to be treated is effectively blocked by an occlusive lesion (sometimes referred to as a “total occlusion,” the occlusive lesion usually comprising, thrombus, soft plaque, and/or calcified plaque) so that advancing a guidewire to and/or beyond the lesion is challenging and/or impossible.  
           [0014]    Several techniques and devices can assist in problematic intraluminal procedures, including guided or steerable guidewires and catheters, blunt-ended catheters, and the like. Once a guidewire or guiding catheter is placed, various techniques can be employed to fragment the unwanted plaque or tissue from blood vessels, including rotating abrasion structures or impellers, cutters, high pressure fluid infusion to create a Venturi effect, and the like. Other devices such as atherectomy cutters may also be employed. These known catheters and techniques for accessing and treating luminal lesions have had varying degrees of success. Unfortunately, total occlusions can impede access to the treatment site, making it challenging and/or impossible to place a guide structure for most of these subsequent treatments.  
           [0015]    In light of the above, it would be beneficial to provide improved devices, systems, methods, methods for manufacture, and kits for removing occlusive material from the vasculature and other body lumens. It would be particularly desirable to provide improved techniques for advancing a guidewire or guide catheter, positioning a treatment catheter across the blocking occlusion, isolating the treatment site, and further treating the occlusion while minimizing or eliminating any distal emboli. An improved procedure would also benefit from having a device that can rapidly aspirate the occlusive material from the body lumen. Optionally, these improved devices and methods might be used to treat a total occlusion as the treatment device is being advanced through the occlusion, facilitating placement of a wire across the occlusion so that further treatment can be easily commenced. Device and methods which allow creation of a channel through a total occlusion for placement of a guidewire would also be advantageous, as would improved debulking of stenotic tissues.  
           [0016]    Some or all of these objectives may be met by the device and methods of the present invention.  
           [0017]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0018]    As mentioned above, systems and methods for clot disruption and removal related to the present invention are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,517. A related mechanical pump for removal of fragmented matter and methods was described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/590915, filed on Jun. 9, 2000. A further related method and system for reinfusing filtered body aspirates is described in U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/174,108, filed on Dec. 31, 1999.  
           [0019]    A cutting stent with a flexible tissue extractor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,708. A compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,945. Unitary removal of plaque is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,098. A method for performing a partial atherectomy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,484, while an atherectomy device having a helical blade and a blade guide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,277. A catheter arthrotome is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,625. A surgical apparatus for transurethral resection is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,957. A vessel deposit sharing apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,326.  
           [0020]    A coiled stent with locking ends is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,549. A medical instrument with a slotted memory metal tube is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,258. A method for manufacturing a tubular medical device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,863. The following U.S. Pat. Nos. may also be relevant: 6,010,449; 5,968,064; 5,741,270; 5,766,191; 5,569,275; 5,501,694; 5,795,322; 5,904,968; 5,224,945; 5,312,425; 5,330,484; and 6,022,336.  
           [0021]    All of the above references, and any and all other references cited in this application, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0022]    The present invention provides improved devices, methods, kits, methods for fabrication, and the like, for removing thrombus and/or other obstructive material from the vasculature and other body lumens. The invention generally makes use of cooperating radially expansible shearing members, each shearing members often being in the form of an expansible basket. The exemplary baskets comprise helically oriented struts, with the struts of each shearing member extending with a uniform circumferential direction. The struts will often be independently flexible between proximal and distal portions of the shearing members, which can allow the shearing the members to flex axially to follow axially curving body lumens. The inner basket may be rotatably driven within the outer basket, and may optionally be coupled to an axial pump extending proximally from the shearing members. The outer basket may be coupled to a catheter body to avoid excessive tissue trauma to the body lumen, and the helical struts of the shearing members can by helically counterwound, so that the inner struts may slide substantially continuously across the outer struts. The inner and outer baskets may both radially expand selectively, independently and/or with a single actuator. The resulting shearing action is sufficiently aggressive for highly effective thrombectomy, while use of a rotationally static and axially flexible outer basket may provide a safe, limited, and controllable atherectomy treatment.  
           [0023]    Improved methods and apparatus are also provided for treating total occlusions in natural and artificial lumens of the body such as the vasculature (including the coronary, peripheral, neurovascular circulation, grafts, and implanted stents). In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for positioning a catheter or guidewire at the proximal side of a total occlusion and crossing that occlusion with a guidewire, and often with another catheter to enable further treatment. The present invention further provides a treatment device that enables crossing of the lesion, and optionally isolating the treatment site (for purposes of embolic protection or for infusing a therapeutic agent to assist in debulking the occlusion), flushing debris, treatment of the occlusion, and maceration and removal of the debris. These techniques may include flushing the vessel or treatment site with fluid (saline, for example) or pharmacologic agents to assist in breaking up the clot or tissue into a particle size that can then be aspirated through a lumen of a treatment device, or of a secondary catheter coupled with a source of vacuum/suction. Due to this fragmentation process, it may also be desirable to occlude or filter the lumen of the vessel proximally and/or distally of the treatment site to inhibit clot, plaque or tissue from embolizing and creating complications for the patient such as stroke, myocardial infarction, limb thrombosis, or limb ischemia, optionally using a non-integral embolic protection device, one or more balloons or expandable structures mounted to the treatment catheter, guidewire, a proximal sheath over the treatment catheter, or the like.  
           [0024]    In a first aspect, the invention provides a vascular obstruction removal catheter comprising a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end. An outer shearing member is attached near the distal end, the outer member having a perforate inner surface. An inner shearing member is rotatably disposed within the outer member, the inner member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a circumferential series of struts extending therebetween. The struts can flex to slide across the inner surface of the outer shearing member when the inner shearing member rotates.  
           [0025]    Optionally, the inner member may rotate about an axis, and the inner and outer shearing bodies may be sufficiently flexible to deflect the axis laterally when the outer shearing member is expanded to engage a surrounding vessel and the inner member rotates therein. The struts may uniformly coil helically in a first circumferential orientation so that rotation of the inner shearing member toward the first circumferential orientation consistently urges sheared occlusive material proximally. The inner shearing member may comprise tube material, the struts being separated by cut surfaces between adjacent tube material portions. The outer shearing member may comprise outer tube material having a proximal outer portion, a distal outer portion and a circumferential series of outer struts extending helically therebetween, with the struts being separated by cut outer surfaces between outer adjacent tube material portions. The struts may be affixed together at the proximal portion and at the distal portion, and may flex independently therebetween.  
           [0026]    The struts may be helically oriented with a local pitch of the struts varying axially along the struts. The local pitch can increase toward the proximal and distal portions sufficiently to inhibit excessive separation between adjacent struts when the outer shearing member flexes axially. The struts may have protrusions which inhibit sliding of obstructive material axially between cooperating edges of the inner and outer shearing bodies. At least one expansion actuator may extend proximally from the shearing members so that the inner and outer shearing members can be radially expanded in situ. Axial translation of an expansion actuator may selectively radially expand the inner and outer shearing members concurrently.  
           [0027]    A distally oriented occlusion penetrator may be disposed adjacent the distal end of the shearing members. The occlusion penetrator may comprise one or more end cutters that rotate with the inner shearing member and are exposed distally of the outer shearing member to help advance the shearing members distally through occlusive material and within a body lumen. Alternative occlusion penetrators include a shaft extendable distally of the shearing members, the shaft axially oscillating through occlusive material without penetrating through a vessel wall. An intravascular ultrasound sensor can be used to measure vascular obstructions for removal and/or identify partial or total occlusion that may impede access to the target region.  
           [0028]    It may also be desirable to attach a porous or non-porous coverings or coatings to at least one shearing member, particularly to the outer shearing member. Such a covering or coating may extend between the struts of a shearing member or positioning cage when the shearing member or positioning cage expands, and can be made from PTFE woven material, filter material (metallic or polymeric), braid material (metallic or polymeric), mesh, polymeric coatings, and the like. The coatings can be applied to the outer basket through a dipping process. Alternatively, the coverings may be applied to the outer basket using cyanoacrylate or other adhesives, thread or suturing, welding or bonding, or the like. Such coatings may be disposed along a distal and/or proximal region of the expandable perforate shearing member or positioning cage, and may inhibit embolization of fragmented occlusive material, constrain a treatment fluid or fluid stream, and the like.  
           [0029]    In another aspect, the invention provides a vascular obstruction removal catheter comprising a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end. A flexible drive shaft is rotatably disposed within the tubular body. An outer shearing member attached near the distal end of the tubular body has a circumferential series of independently flexible outer struts with inner surfaces. An inner shearing member is rotationally driven by the drive shaft within the outer member, the inner member having a circumferential series of independently flexible inner struts, the inner struts having outer surfaces which slide across the inner surfaces of the outer struts when the inner shearing member rotates, at least one member of the group comprising the inner struts and the outer struts being helically oriented.  
           [0030]    Optionally, the inner and outer shearing members can each have proximal portions and distal portions, the struts of each shearing member affixed together at the proximal and distal portions and extending independently therebetween so that the shearing members flex axially primarily along the struts. A proximal housing may be coupled to the tubular body, the housing having a motor drivingly engaging the drive shaft. The drive shaft may engage the distal portion of the inner shearing member and be axially translatable relative to the outer tubular member from adjacent the proximal housing. An axial bearing surfaces of the outer and inner shearing members can cooperate to effect concurrent radial expansion of the inner and outer shearing members when the drive shave translates axially.  
           [0031]    In another aspect, the invention also provides a method for forming a vascular obstruction removal catheter. The method comprises providing a first tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a central region therebetween, the tube comprising a tube material. The central region of the first tube is cut axially so as to define a circumferential series of independent deformable struts, the struts comprising the tube material. The first cage can be positioned coaxially with a second resiliently deformable cage, and a drive can be attached for rotating at least one of the cages within a blood vessel for shearing of obstructive material between the cages.  
           [0032]    In another aspect, the invention comprises a method for removing obstructive material from a blood vessel of a patient. The method comprises introducing a distal portion of a catheter into the blood vessel. The distal portion of the catheter is positioned adjacent the obstructive material from outside the patient by manipulating a flexible body of the catheter. Inner and outer shearing members of the catheter are radially expanded within the blood vessel, the inner shearing member is rotated within the outer shearing member to shear the occlusive material therebetween.  
           [0033]    In yet another aspect, the invention provides a component for use in a catheter device for removal of obstructive material from the lumen of a body conduit. The component comprises first and second end portions having a longitudinal axis there between. A middle portion has one or more struts around the circumference of said longitudinal axis and extending between (but not along) said first end portion and said second end portion. Said middle portion and said end portions are formed from a continuous tube.  
           [0034]    The struts may comprise a helix about said longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the struts may be formed in a straight configuration along said longitudinal axis and between said first and second end portions. The struts may have a width and a thickness, wherein said width is greater than said thickness. The width of the struts may vary along the length of the struts, and may form at least one serration or pocket. The thickness of the struts may be varied along the length of said strut, optionally so as to form a cutting edge. A cross section of the middle portion may be greater than cross sections of said end first and second end portions. The struts may be formed by laser cutting, by photoetching, by EDM, or by water jet abrasion. The first and second end portions can be formed in a zigzag configuration, and may have a longitudinal length that is less than that of the length of said middle portion. The component can comprise a shape memory alloy (such as a nickel titanium alloy, Elgiloy®, or the like), stainless steel, a formable polymer, a composite material, or the like.  
           [0035]    In yet another aspect, the invention may comprise a component for use in a catheter device for removal of obstructive material from the lumen of a body conduit. The component comprises first and second end portions having a first cross sectional diameter and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A middle portion extends between but does not include the end portions, and has at least one second cross sectional diameter and a plurality of struts forming a helix around the circumference of said longitudinal axis. The middle portion and said end portions are formed from a continuous tube.  
           [0036]    In some embodiments, the struts are axially connected to the adjacent strut by an expandable connector element, with the expandable connector element optionally having a serpentine configuration, defining a zigzag, or the like.  
           [0037]    In yet another aspect, the invention provides a device for treating a total occlusion in a vessel having a vessel wall. The device comprises a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen. A radially expansible positioning cage is disposed near the distal end of the catheter body. A shaft is disposed in the catheter body lumen, the shaft advanceable into the total occlusion without penetrating through the vessel wall when the positioning cage is radially expanded.  
           [0038]    Optionally, the shaft may comprises a dottering member extendable beyond the catheter body distal end. The dottering member by cycle axially and/or rotationally to facilitate advancing the dottering member into the total occlusion, the dottering member making a “pilot hole” into the occlusive material without penetrating through the vessel wall. A mechanical pump may be received within the catheter body lumen, and/or a macerator may extend at least partially along the length of said lumen, particularly adjacent the distal end. Distally exposed rotating cutters may be particularly beneficial for advancing the catheter into the total occlusion.  
           [0039]    In another method aspect, the invention provides a method of removing a total occlusion from the vessel of a patient. The method comprises introducing a positioning cage catheter system into a vessel of a patient and advancing the catheter system to the site of the occlusion to be treated. A positioning cage of the catheter system is radially expanded within the vessel to position a lumen of the catheter system. An occlusion penetrator of the catheter system is advanced within the positioned lumen and into the occlusion along a luminal length of the occlusion. The catheter system is manipulated to advance a guidewire or guide catheter distally of the occlusion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]    [0040]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of inclusive material removal catheter having a rotationally driven inner basket which cooperates with a outer basket to shear occlusive material therebetween.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the distal portion of the catheter of FIG. 1.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3A- 3 C is a perspective view showing the inner and outer baskets of the catheter of FIG. 1.  3 B and  3 C show how the outer basket may have a coating or covering for embolic capture.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outer basket or shearing member of the catheter of FIG. 1.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tube cut so as to form the inner or outer basket of the catheter of FIG. 1.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 illustrates a flat pattern of the basket of FIG. 5, showing variable pitch of the helical struts.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative basket having protrusions and/or circumferential indentations to inhibit axial sliding of occlusive material during shearing.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another alternative basket having circumferential proximal and/or distal web members between struts to inhibit severing of valves and other structures disposed axially of the shearing baskets.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the proximal end of the shearing baskets and the distal end of the catheter body.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 10 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the proximal end of the shearing baskets and the distal end of the catheter.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing attachment of the inner shearing basket to a drive shaft.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a proximal housing of the catheter of FIG. 1.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 12 with a portion of the cover removed to show the drive system and other internal components.  
         [0053]    FIGS.  14 - 17  schematically illustrate the use of the occlusive material removal catheter of FIG. 1.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate alternative embodiments of the positioning cage catheter device of the present invention.  
         [0055]    FIGS.  18 C- 18 F illustrate radially expandable positioning and shearing structures having an occlusive material penetrator in the form of a distally exposed morcellator for forming a passage through a total occlusion.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 19 illustrates the positioning cage catheter device of the present invention being used to initiate the crossing of a total occlusion.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a positioning cage and a treatment device are formed integrally and placed over a guidewire.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 21 illustrates details of the distal end of the integral positioning cage and treatment device of FIG. 20.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIGS. 22, 23, and  24 A- 24 B illustrates steps in methods for use of the system of FIG. 20 for accessing a treatment site of an occlusion which is challenging and/or impossible to traverse with a standard guidewire.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 25A- 25 C illustrates method of treating luminal occlusions in which a treatment region of the lumen is at least partially isolated.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 26 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a drive shaft is advanced to gain access through the total occlusion.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0062]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a vascular obstruction removal catheter  10  generally includes an elongate flexible catheter body  12  having a proximal end  14  and a distal end  16 . Cooperating inner and outer shearing baskets  18 ,  20  define shearing means  19 , and are disposed near distal end  16  of catheter body  12 , while a proximal housing  22  is disposed near proximal end  14  of the catheter body. More specifically, outer basket  20  will typically be affixed at distal end  16  of catheter body  12 , while a drive shaft drivingly couples inner basket  18  to a drive motor of proximal housing  22 .  
         [0063]    The inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20  of shearing means  19  are illustrated with some of the adjacent structures in FIG. 2, and in a simplified format (without some of the adjacent structures) in FIG. 3A. Outer basket  20  is shown without inner basket  18  in FIG. 4.  
         [0064]    Each of the baskets  18 ,  20  includes a proximal portion  24 , a distal portion  26 , and an intermediate portion  28 . Intermediate portion  28  includes a circumferential series of helical struts  30 . Struts  30  are affixed together at proximal portion  24  and distal portion  26 , but generally extend independently therebetween. This allows struts  30  to flex individually, and allows the overall axis of each basket  18 ,  20  (as well as shearing means  19 ) to deflect laterally so as to accommodate axial curvature of the vasculature.  
         [0065]    Baskets  18 ,  20  will generally be radially expansible in situ from a low profile configuration to a larger profile configuration. Baskets  18 ,  20  will often comprise a resilient or superelastic material, and may be biased to expand radially when released from a radially constraining sheath. As helically wound baskets exhibit radial expansion which is coupled with a decrease in axial length, manipulation of the axial lengths of the baskets may also be used to induce or control the radial expansion, so that baskets  18 ,  20  may expand resiliently when released from an axial elongation restraint.  
         [0066]    The baskets may also be biased toward a profile which is smaller than a fully radially expanded configuration, so that radially and/or axial restraints are used to actively expand the diameter of shearing means  19 . In other words, by decreasing the length of baskets  18 ,  20 , struts  30  may be pushed radially outwardly. In the exemplary embodiment, inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20  will expand radially when an axial actuator  34  of proximal housing  22  (see FIG. 1) is actuated from outside the patient body, as will be described hereinbelow. Hence, struts  30  may optionally be biased toward the radially expanded configuration, a low-profile configuration, or some configuration therebetween. Advantageously, the profile of shearing means  19  can be selected from a plurality and/or continuous range of expanded sizes, and can be varied during treatment.  
         [0067]    Outer basket  20  may be rotationally coupled to catheter body  12 . Thus, movement of the outer basket within the vasculature can be substantially limited to, for example, axial positioning and advancement of the shearing means for treatment, thereby inhibiting excessive trauma to the surrounding vessel wall. Optionally, additional manipulation of catheter body  12  may be used to abraid the vessel wall with direct engagement between the outer basket and the endothelium.  
         [0068]    Struts  30  of outer basket  20  have continuous inner surfaces  36  between proximal portion  24  and distal portion  26 . Similarly, struts  30  of inner basket  18  may have continuous outer surfaces  38  between the proximal and distal portions. By rotationally driving inner basket  18  within outer basket  20  using drive shaft  32 , outer surfaces  38  slide across inner surfaces  36  so as to shear occlusive material within the vasculature therebetween. In some cases, direct engagement between the inner basket and the surrounding tissues between the struts of the outer basket may also provide some shearing and/or abrasion of occlusive mater.  
         [0069]    The drive shaft may be axially coupled to both the inner and outer baskets at distal portions  26 . This allows concurrent and coordinated radial expansion of the inner and outer baskets so as to maintain sufficient proximity between the inner surface  36  and the outer surface  38  to provide the desired shearing effect. In the exemplary embodiment, drive shaft  32  comprises a tube having a guide wire lumen  40  and an outer helical pumping element  42 . As described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/590,915, previously incorporated herein by reference, rotation of such a helical pumping element within an aspiration lumen  44  of catheter body  12  can draw and/or pump severed fragments of occlusive material, debris, and fluid proximally into and/or through the catheter body. This actively pumped aspiration may draw fluid proximally from within proximal portions  24  of baskets  18 ,  20 , and/or radially inwardly and then proximally through one or more aspiration windows  46  about catheter body  12 .  
         [0070]    In some embodiments, at least one of the inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20  may have struts  30  which extend, at least in part, substantially axially. Preferably, at least one of the baskets will have struts  30 , which wind primarily toward a first circumferential orientation  50  as the struts proceed distally, as can be understood with reference to FIG. 4. Such a consistent winding direction can be used to consistently urge sheared materials proximally, as can be understood with reference to the arrows illustrated in FIG. 3A. As inner and outer surfaces  36 ,  38  slide against each other, material which is severed between these cooperating surfaces can be urged proximally when the inner basket is rotated relative to the outer basket in the proper direction.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate a catheter having a shearing means similar to that of FIG. 3A, and also having an expansible distal covering  31  (FIG. 3B) or an expansible proximal covering  33  (FIG. 3C). Coverings  31 ,  33  comprise a porous or non-porous coverings or coatings carried on (and expansible with) the outer shearing member along some (but typically not all) of the expansible portion of baskets  18 ,  20 . Coatings  31 ,  33  may inhibit embolization of fragmented occlusive material, constrian a treatment fluid or fluid stream, inhibit injury to the venous valves and the like. Coverings  31 ,  33  extend between adjacent struts of a shearing member or positioning cage and accommodate radial expansion of the shearing member or positioning cage, the covering optionally being made from a PTFE woven material, filter material (metallic or polymeric), braid material (metallic or polymeric), mesh, polymeric coatings, and the like. The coatings may be applied to the outer basket through a dipping, filament winding or braiding process, or the like. Alternatively, the coverings may be applied to the outer basket using cyanoacrylate or other adhesives, thread or suturing, welding or bonding, or the like.  
         [0072]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative basket structure is illustrated in a perspective view and as a flat pattern, respectively. The flat pattern of FIG. 6 graphically illustrates the configuration of the struts  30  as if basket  50  were cut along one side and unrolled. Such flat patterns are useful for fabrication and understanding the strut configuration.  
         [0073]    As is clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, a local helical wind angle defined between struts  30  and an axis  52  of basket  50  can vary along the axis. Preferably, a helical angle  54  along a central portion of struts  30  is significantly greater than a helical angle  56  near proximal and distal portions  24 ,  26 . In other words, a pitch of struts  30  may vary locally along the axis of basket  50 , with the pitch generally being greater adjacent the proximal and distal portions  24 ,  26 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pitch varies according to a sinusoidal function in which the period in the central ⅓ of the axial strut length is ½ the period on the proximal and distal thirds. Advantageously, such enhanced central helical winding angles help to avoid circumferential distortion of struts  30  when axis  52  is deflected laterally, so that uneven separation between the struts during axial bending is inhibited.  
         [0074]    Referring now to FIG. 7, at least one of inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20  may include struts  30  having one or more circumferential protrusions  62 . Struts  30  of basket  60  can define pockets which effectively capture occlusive material against the struts of the cooperating basket. This can help avoid excessively axial sliding of material for which shearing is desired, as the material will be caught at a pocket or protrusion between the cooperating shearing struts. This can be understood by imagining a pencil which is to be sheared between the cooperating surfaces of a pair of scissors. The pencil may slide along straight cooperating shearing surfaces. Such sliding may be inhibited by forming a protrusion and/or pocket to capture the pencil along an edge of one or both shearing members.  
         [0075]    A still further alternative basket  70  is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, one or more circumferential members  72  extend between adjacent struts  30  adjacent proximal and/or distal portions  24 ,  26 . Circumferential member  72  can allow some expansion at the ends, and can help inhibit entraining structures which are disposed axially of the shearing baskets. For example, circumferential member  72  may help avoid severing valves within blood vessels. A variety of alternative circumferential members might be used, including expandable and/or elastomeric webs, braided meshes, or the like.  
         [0076]    The shearing baskets may be formed of a metal, optionally comprising a superelastic metal, such as Nitinol®, Elgiloy®, or the like. Alternative basket materials may include stainless steel or other high strength metals, and the baskets may comprise a polymer in some embodiments. Optionally, struts  30  may comprise wire with wire struts often being affixed at the proximal and distal portions  24 ,  26 . In the exemplary embodiment, the shearing baskets are formed from a continuous material extending along proximal portion  24 , along struts  30 , and along distal portion  26 . The struts may have a circumferential width in a range from about 0.004″ to about 0.100″, preferably having a width from about 0.006″ to about 0.025″. The radial thickness of the struts will typically be in a range from about 0.001″ to 0.050″, preferably being in a range from about 0.003″ to about 0.025″. The baskets may be formed by selectively cutting a tube so as to define the struts, often by use of photoetch processing, laser cutting, water jet abrasion, or EDM techniques.  
         [0077]    Referring now to FIGS.  9 - 11 , coupling of drive shaft  32  and catheter body  12  to inner and outer shearing baskets  18 ,  20  can be understood. Adjacent proximal end  24 , catheter  12  is axially and rotationally affixed to outer basket  20 , as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. Drive shaft  32  rotates within aspiration lumen  44  of catheter body  12 , and the drive shaft may have a helical pumping member  42 . Pumping member  42  acts as an Archimedes screw, urging fluid and debris within proximal portion  24  of inner basket  18  proximally, and/or entraining fluid radially through aspiration windows  46 .  
         [0078]    Inner cutter  18  is rotationally affixed to drive shaft  32  adjacent portion  26 , as illustrated in FIG. 11. Inner basket  18  is rotatable within proximal portion  24  of outer basket  20 , and axial movement of the inner basket within the outer basket is limited by proximal cooperating thrust bearing surfaces  80 , as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Similarly, distal portion  26  of outer basket  20  is axially coupled to drive shaft  32  and inner basket  18  by distal thrust bearing surfaces  82 , as illustrated in FIG. 11. A nose cone  84  presents an atraumatic distal tip adjacent the distal port of guidewire lumen  40 .  
         [0079]    As can now be understood with reference to FIGS.  9 - 11 , rotation of drive shaft  40  results in rotation of inner basket  18  within outer basket  20 . Translating drive shaft  40  proximally within catheter  12  can result in radial expansion of the shearing baskets, as the cooperating distal thrust bearing surfaces  82  decrease the overall length of the shearing baskets. Separate thrust bearing surfaces might be coupled to independently axially movable structures so as to effect independent radial expansion of the baskets  
         [0080]    The structure and use of proximal housing  22  can be more clearly understood with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. Housing  22  contains a motor drivingly engaging drive shaft  32  within catheter body  12 . The motor may be actuated by a drive actuator  88 , with the drive actuator optionally effecting shearing motion of the inner basket and urging the sheared debris proximally when the actuator is moved in a first direction. When drive actuator is moved in a second direction, drive shaft  32  may rotate in an alternative direction, which may help free a jammed inner cutting member, or the like. An aspiration port  90  may be coupled to a vacuum source, such as a lockable syringe, a vacuum pump, or the like. A vacuum actuator  92  may provide momentary aspiration. Linear actuation of the drive shaft  32  may be provided by a linear actuator  34  (See FIG. 1)coupled to the drive shaft using thrust bearings and axially slidable engagement of drive splines, or the like.  
         [0081]    Referring now to FIGS.  14 - 17 , catheter  10  will generally be introduced into a blood vessel B over a guidewire GW using a conventional percutaneous or cut-down technique. Optionally, a portion of the blood vessel encompassing the target occlusive material may be isolated from surrounding blood flow. Such isolation may be provided by using a balloon guidewire and/or a sheath disposed around catheter body  12 , with the sheath having an expandable member such as an annular balloon. Hence, isolation may be provided proximally and/or distally of an occlusive material O within a blood vessel wall W. Inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20  may be inserted and positioned adjacent the targeted occlusive material O while the baskets are in a low profile configuration, optionally using a remote imaging modality such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or the like.  
         [0082]    As illustrated in FIG. 15, once catheter  10  has been appropriately positioned, drive shaft  32  may be translated proximally relative to catheter body  12  so as to radially expand inner and outer baskets  18 ,  20 . Where the inner and outer baskets are biased to expand resiliently, drive shaft  32  may be released to allow the baskets to expand. Where the baskets are biased to a configuration smaller than the desired deployed configuration, the drive shaft may be urged proximally relative to catheter body  12  so as to overcome the resilience of the basket structures. Advantageously, the overall size of the cooperating shearing members may be selected by selectively axially positioning the drive shaft relative to the surrounding catheter body. This helps provide accurate control over the depth of material sheared from wall W.  
         [0083]    Once the positioned catheter is properly expanded to the desired size, rotation of the inner basket  18  is initiated by actuation of drive actuator  88  of the proximal housing  22 . This results in both shearing of occlusive material O from wall W, and in urging of the severed debris in a proximal direction (effected both by the crossing angle of the struts  30  and pumping of the helical member of drive shaft  32 . An aspiration pressure differential may also be applied via proximal housing  22  as described above so as to avoid release of debris within the blood vessel.  
         [0084]    As illustrated in FIG. 16, catheter  10  may advanced distally over guidewire GW within the vessel wall W during rotation of inner basket  18 . Outer basket  20  slides distally against the vessel wall substantially without rotating, thereby providing an incremental and controlled shearing action which can follow axial bends of the natural or artificial blood vessel B. The amount of occlusive material O removed form vessel wall W at a particular location may depend on the expanded size of the cooperating shearing baskets at that location, on the speed of rotation of the inner basket, on the speed of axial translation of the shearing means, and on the total time and number of rotations of the inner basket at that location.  
         [0085]    For relative soft occlusive material O, such as clot material, the proximal shearing action of the struts may, at least in part, draw the occlusive material proximally from along the vessel wall into the interior of the baskets, as can be understood with reference to FIG. 17. Similarly, rotation of the helical struts  30  of inner basket  18  may help draw catheter  10  distally within blood vessel B.  
         [0086]    As can be understood with reference to FIG. 17, serrated circumferential surfaces  94  may improve shearing efficiency by limiting sliding of occlusive material O. Regardless, as the strut of inner basket  18  rotates relative to the struts of outer basket  20 , occlusive material O protruding into an interior of the baskets from wall W is both severed and/or urged proximally.  
         [0087]    A variety of adaptations and modifications on the structures and methods described herein may be provided. For example, a kit may include some or all of the components of catheter  10  together with instructions for their use according to one or more of the methods described herein. Proximal end or distal portions  24 ,  26  of the inner and/or outer baskets may comprise a serpentine circumferential member, thereby allowing that portion to be expanded radially during assembly of catheter  10 . It may be advantageous to at least slightly bias struts  30  radially outwardly so as to facilitate initial axial compression of the baskets. While the present invention has been described with reference to removal of clot, plaque, hyperplasia, or other occlusive material of a blood vessel, the structures and methods of the present invention may find applications for removing occlusive material from a wide variety of alternative body structures and lumens, including the fallopian tubes, genitourinary tract (for example, for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the like), gastrointestinal tract, and the like.  
         [0088]    A positioning cage catheter  120  which is particularly beneficial for treatment of blood vessels having a total occlusion (when it is difficult or impossible to access the entire treatment site with a standard guidewire) is illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B. Many of known intraluminal therapies require that (or are facilitated when) the lumen has a significant open cross section, without an excessively tortuous luminal path, to allow the guide structure to be placed across the occlusion.  
         [0089]    It should be noted that the term total occlusion may refer to any substance or anatomic morphology that acts to severely occlude a body conduit such that it is difficult to pass a wire from proximal end of the occlusion to the distal end. Depending on the type of material occluding the body conduit (soft plaque, calcified plaque, thrombus, fibrin, clot, intimal hyperplasia, in-stent restenosis, fatty tissue etc.) some occlusions may be more severe than others but all are included in the scope of the present invention when there may be some difficulty passing a guidewire therethrough.  
         [0090]    Cage  110  may be formed of multiple straight wires or struts  111 , or multiple curved wires or struts  112  formed into a helix as depicted in FIG. 18B. It is noted that a double wire (not shown) may also be employed to form the cage structure. These cage structures are fixedly attached to a catheter body  113 , having a distal tip  114  accommodating passage of a guidewire through lumen  115 .  
         [0091]    In an exemplary embodiment, catheter system  120  comprises a positioning cage such as described one of those described above, or such as those in related U.S. patent Application Ser. No. 09/388,294, incorporated herein by reference. A guidewire such as the described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/491,401 (vibrating guidewire) or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/005,217 incorporated herein by reference, or in some cases such as those readily available from various manufacturers (TERUMO, CORP./BOSTON SCIENTIFIC, Natick, MA, GUIDANT, CORP., Indianapolis, Ind., or PERCUSURGE, Sunnyvale, Calif.) may be used within catheter system  120 , as will be understood from the following description. Optionally, the positioning cage and the treatment catheter may be employed as an integral unit to both place the guidewire, and to perform the subsequent treatment. In such embodiments a device such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/491,401 and 09/388,294 previously incorporated herein by reference, may be employed.  
         [0092]    In use, the total occlusion access devices of the present invention may be inserted into a body conduit and advanced to the proximal side of the occlusion, either over a guidewire, or by just advancing the positioning cage to the treatment site, depending on the body lumen to be treated. Once at the treatment site, the positioning cage can be pushed against the occlusion. As will be described below, a guidewire or dottering device may be advanced from the cage through a lumen coaxial with the cage (and hence, substantially coaxial with the body lumen when the cage is expanded therein ) to penetrate and/or pierce the occlusion. The combination action of the positioning cage asserting forces against the vessel wall and the occlusive material (optionally by rotating the cage or expanding the against the vessel wall), and the guidewire or dottering device probing against the occlusion, may work to tunnel the devices through the occlusion to the distalmost portion and beyond. The positioning cage may help to center the action of the dottering member and inhibit perforations through the vessel wall or other vessel wall damage.  
         [0093]    The positioning cage may be part of a treatment catheter and therefore, once the guidewire is in place, the treatment catheter may be advanced to initiate removal of the occlusion. Depending on the occlusion to be treated, a distal protection device, such as a balloon fixed to a guidewire, a filter affixed to a guidewire, or the like, may be employed distal of the occlusion and expanded to minimize any embolization of clot or other material. In addition, an occlusion balloon or filter may be deployed proximal of the occlusion to isolate the lesion and allow the treatment device (or a separate structure) to infuse saline, contrast, pharmacologic agents such as tPA, ReoPro, IIB3A inhibitors and the like, or chemical ablation agents or acid solutions such as those described in PCT Application No. PCT/US99/15918 (WO 00/03651). The occlusive debris can be removed by activating the shearing, macerating, and aspirating function of the device of the present invention as described above, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/388,294 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/154,752.  
         [0094]    Referring now to FIGS.  18 C-F, the structure of an exemplary positioning cage catheter system  120   a  adjacent distal tip  114  is illustrated in more detail. Catheter system  120   a  includes inner and outer shearing members in the form of baskets  18 ,  20 , as described above, and can also include some or all of the catheter structures described above for selectively expanding the inner and/or outer baskets, for irrigating and/or aspirating fluids, for urging fluids and severed fragments proximally within the outer sheath, for isolating the body lumen proximally and/or distally of the shearing members, and the like.  
         [0095]    To facilitate advancement of catheter system  120   a  distally for treatment of a total occlusion, a total occlusion penetrator is provided adjacent tip  114 . In the embodiment of FIGS.  18 C-F, the penetrator is in the form of a distally exposed morcellator  122 . Morcellator  122  comprises a circumferential series of helical cutters which may be rotationally coupled to inner shearing member  18  or may rotate independently of the shearing member. The cutters of morcellator  122  may extend distally of the distal portion of the outer shearing member  20  and/or distally of the inner tubular body which defines the guidewire lumen  115  sufficiently to allow the rotating cutters to advance into the occlusive material of a total occlusion when the morcellator rotates. Expansion of the shearing member can maintain separation between the advancing morcellator and the vascular walls, so that the expanded shearing member acts as a positioning cage. As described above, use of a morcellator in the form of one or more helical structures within a lumen (the lumen here defined by the distal portion of outer shearing member  20 ) can act as a pump or Archimedes screw to urge the occlusive material proximally.  
         [0096]    In use (as illustrated in FIG. 19), the positioning catheter  120  is inserted into a vessel BV and advanced to the treatment site just proximal of total occlusion TO. Cage  110  may actually engage the occlusion TO and begin loosening the plaque or other material making up the occlusion. Furthermore cage may be manually rotated to further engage the occlusion. Once at the treatment site, guidewire GW may be optionally advanced out of the distal tip of the positioning catheter to contact and help fragment the occlusion TO, the guidewire optionally being adapted for use as an occlusion penetrator, as will be described below. As described above regarding FIGS.  18 C-E, a morcellator  122  may also be used as an occlusive material penetrator by rotating the distally exposed morcellator and advancing the catheter system to engage the rotating morcellator against the total occlusion TO. Catheter  120 , guidewire GW, and/or morcellator  122  may be used in combination or in an alternating motions or cycles to create a pilot hole through the occlusion TO such that the guidewire GW may be placed through the occlusion and advanced distally therebeyond.  
         [0097]    An alternative positioning cage catheter system is schematically depicted in FIG. 20. Treatment catheter  130  comprises a proximal end having a handle  131  with an actuator knob  132  and a Y connection  133  to allow infusion and/or aspiration. A catheter shaft  113  extends distally from handle  131  toward a distal working end  134 . FIG. 21 depicts the distal working end of treatment catheter  130 , showing a positioning cage  110  attached at its proximal end to catheter shaft  113 , and on its distal end to distal tip  114 . Distal working end  134  further comprises a drive shaft  141  with an optional coiled mechanical pump  141 ′ and a macerator  142  coiled therearound. A more detailed description of treatment catheter  130  may be found in related case U.S. patent application No. 09/388,294 as previously incorporated by reference.  
         [0098]    In use, as illustrated in FIG. 22, treatment catheter  130  is inserted into the lumen of a vessel BV and advanced to the proximal portion of the treatment site. At this point the lesion can either be crossed mechanically (as described above regarding FIG. 19) and/or saline or other therapeutic agents may be infused (optionally via guidewire lumen  115 , as shown in FIGS. 18) to assist in dissolving, softening, and/or fragmenting the occlusive material. In some embodiments, such agent flow from the catheter system alone may be sufficient to allow a standard guidewire to be advanced through the occlusion. The remaining components of the catheter system may then be advanced over the guidewire and remove some or all of the occlusive material, as described above.  
         [0099]    A standard or modified guidewire may be used to help form a pilot hole or passage for placement of a guide structure. In the exemplary embodiment, a dottering tool or dottering guidewire  151  can be centered within the lumen of the blood vessel BV by expanding cage  110 . The centered dottering tool  151  may then be used as an occlusive material penetrator by advancing the dottering tool in a linear translating and/or cycling motion to begin formation of a pilot hole or pathway through the total occlusion. Although dottering guidewire  151  may have a structure similar to a standard guidewire, the dottering tool will optionally have a more rigid construction than a standard guidewire adjacent the distal end, and the distal portion of the dottering tool may also be able to assume a straight configuration with sufficient axial column strength for advancement of an atraumatic tip distally from the guidewire lumen of the catheter system and into the occlusive material. Once dottering tool  151  has formed a passage  153  through the total occlusion, other devices (such as standard guidewires, a balloon guidewire or other distal protection devices to inhibit embolisms and/or release of therapeutic agents distally of the total occlusion, and the like) may be advanced through the passage, or the dottering wire may be used as a guide structure.  
         [0100]    Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, centering cage or basket  110  can provide centering of guidewire lumen  115 . Centering of this coaxial lumen can help protect the vessel wall from mechanical injury imposed by dottering device  151 . Dottering device  151  may be cycled axially mechanically or using an axial drive motor, and may also be rotated manually or by drive motor. The centered guidewire lumen, which should be substantially coaxial with the vessel, may also be used for infusion of any of a variety of fluids. It may be advantageous to locally deliver (via guidewire lumen  115  or via some other infusion pathway) a thrombolytic agent having an enzymatic action with breads down fibrin clot matrix (such as Alteplase, tPA, Activase, Tenecteplase, TNK, and TNKase from Genentech, Inc.; Anistrpelase a-SK, and Eminase from Roberts Pharmaceuticals; Reteplase, r-PA, and Retavase from Centocor, Inc.; Streptokinase, SK, and Streptase from AstraZeneca, Inc.; and/or Abbokinase, from Abbott, Inc. In some embodiments, a GP Ilb/IIIa inhibitor, which inhibits the fibrogen binding site of platelet membrane, may be locally delivered. Suitable GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors may include Abciximab and ReoPro from Centocor, Inc.; Tirofiban and Aggrastat from Merck, Inc.; Eptifibatide and Integrelin from Cor Therapeutics, Inc.; Bitistatin, Kistrin, and Aspirin. Still further active agents might be used, including antithrombin agents and agents directed toward prevention of restenosis (to inhibit coagulation and/or decreasing smooth muscle proliferation and migration), such as Heparin, LMW, enoxaparine or Lovenox, dalteparin or Fragmin, ardeparin or Normoflo, Hirudin, Argatroban, PPACK, radioactive agents, nitrate, HA 1077, calcium antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, anti-inflammatory agents, steroidal agents, anti-mitotic agents, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, colchicine, angiopeptin, cytoclasin B, and the like. Gene therapy agents might also be locally delivered to inhibit restenosis and/or promote angiogenesis, with suitable agents optionally being delivered via plasmid vectors or by viral vectors, and suitable agents including genes relating to VEGF, C-myb, FGF, transforming growth factor b. endothelial growth factor, protooncogenes such as C-myc, C-myg, CDC-2, PCNA, and the like. Local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents (which are used to treat malignancies) may be employed, such as adriamycin or Doxorubicin. Imaging Media such as contrast media, radioactively labeled agents, or the like may be locally delivered, as might other agents such as plasminogen addative as an adjunct to thrombolytic therapy, immunosuppressive agents, Corazo&#39;n material, lytics, saline, or the like.  
         [0101]    As seen in FIG. 23, positioning cage  10  and dottering device  151  may be advanced simultaneously or in alternating partial steps into and through the total occlusion. Alternatively, dottering device  151  may be advanced through the total occlusion while the expanded positioning cage remains at a fixed location. Regardless, some penetrator structure of the catheter system will preferably advance until a passage  153  is formed through the total occlusion. Once an opening, propagation plane, or pathway has been formed through the occlusion TO, a guide structure may be passed distally along passage  153  beyond the total occlusion.  
         [0102]    In addition to use of cage  110  to protect the vessel wall W from harm by positioning of the penetrator, the cage may be advanced against the proximal portion of the occlusion TO as shown in FIG. 24A (in which cage  110  is shown in a partially expanded configuration  110   a ) and then expanded (to a more fully expanded configuration  110   b ) to assist in propagating a passage, plane, or pathway through the occlusion, as shown in FIG. 24B. In other words, expansion of cage  110  may open up or propagate a cleavage plane to facilitate passing a guidewire or dottering device  51  using a wedge effect. This wedge effect may, of course, be combined with axial cycling of dottering device  51 , rotation and advancement of a cutter, occlusive material agent dissolution, and any of the other mechanisms described herein. Similarly, the various occlusion treatment methods and structures described herein will generally be compatible for use in combination.  
         [0103]    FIGS.  25 A- 25 B illustrate further steps in treatment of the occlusion (TO) once a guidewire has been passed distally. As illustrated, a distal protection member  155  is inserted over the guidewire (or is attached to the guidewire itself) through passage  153  and expanded distally of the occlusion. Distal protection member  155  inhibits distal flow beyond the occlusion and can help decrease or prevent embolization of material downstream of the treatment site. Distal member  155  may comprise an annular balloon fixed on a catheter or guidewire, a radially expandable filter, or any of a wide variety of flow and/or embolization inhibiting intraluminal structures. Optionally, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) sensor  157  may be carried by at least one of the components of the catheter system, optionally in a component which will traverse the occlusion such as the guidewire or dottering device  151  (or other penetrator), a shaft axially coupled to distal protection member  155 , or the like. Alternatively, IVUS capabilities may be incorporated in one or more of the other catheter system components, or may be provided by a dedicated structure that can be advanced through a lumen of the catheter system or independent thereof. Such IVUS capabilities may be useful for planning an occlusion therapy, for monitoring progress of the therapy, and/or for verifying the effectiveness of the therapy.  
         [0104]    Once flow distal of the occlusive material OM is inhibited, treatment of the lesion can continue using any of a wide variety of modalities of treatment such as atherectomy, endarterectomy, infusion of occlusive material removal flow or active agents, and the like. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 25B, a proximal occluding member  159  may also be inflated or expanded to isolate the treatment site. Proximal occluding member may again comprise a balloon or embolic filter carried on the outer surface of shaft  113  or on an outer sheath  161 , with occlusion and fluid isolation allowing the infusion of various treatment modalities such as saline, contrast, pharmacologic agents such as tPA, ReoPro, IIB3A inhibitors and the like, or chemical ablation agents or acid solutions such as those listed above regarding FIGS. 22 and 23, and/or those described in PCT Application No. PCT/US99/15918 (Publication No. WO 00/03651). In the case of any acidic compounds, it is beneficial to fully contain the compounds infused within the treatment site, and to expeditiously remove and aspirate the dissolved material.  
         [0105]    In FIGS. 25B and C, the treatment catheter  130 , and specifically the mechanical pump ( 141  and  141 ′) is used to remove some or all remaining occlusive material OM, including thrombus, plaque, fibrin, clot and the like, while still protecting the vessel wall. Fluid may optionally be circulated by, for example, infusion via lumen  115  while aspirating via a lumen  163  of shaft  113 , the aspiration often being assisted by rotation of the Archimedes screw pump  141 ′ within the aspiration lumen as described above. A vacuum source may be applied to the aspiration lumen via the proximal housing or only a proximal pump may be included, and some embodiments of the occlusion removal and access catheters described herein may not include an integral mechanical pump disposed in a distal lumen of the catheter system. The catheter is then removed and the vessel may then be further treated with a liner, stent, coated stent, stent-graft, or the like, as is taught by the prior art and is known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0106]    The use of the occlusive material removing catheter system embodiment of FIGS.  18 C-E can be understood with reference to FIG. 26. Once again, a positioning cage  110  is located on the distal portion of a treatment catheter  120   a.  Treatment catheter  120   a  may include an axially moveable driveshaft  165 , the cutters  122  may be axially affixed in a distally exposed configuration, or a distal cover may be removed in situ from cutters  122  of the morcellator. Regardless, the driveshaft  165  can be advanced into the occlusion TO while the driveshaft and (and the cutters carried thereon) rotate to create the desired pilot hole, propagation plane or passage for a guidewire or other guide device. Alternatively, the inner or outer cage may be translated distally and/or in tension to distally expose a morcellator that drills similarly into and/or through the total occlusion TO. Hence, a variety of related embodiments will be clear to those of skill in the art in light of the disclosure herein. For example, rather than a morcellator formed of helical cutters extending distally from within a lumen, the penetrator may comprise a blunt disection tool distally extending from a fixed outer or rotating inner cage, a cutter in the form of a spinning burr or screw extending distally from a rotating inner cage, or the like.  
         [0107]    It should be noted that any of the method steps or devices used in one method description may be interchanged with method steps of another description and still be in the scope of the present invention. For example, the isolation balloon or distal protection device may be used in conjunction with the positioning cage catheter  120 , and well as through and in conjunction with treatment catheter  130 . Furthermore, the terms pilot hole and propagation plane are used to refer to any path that is created through a occlusion (TO), either through the center of the vessel lumen, or to one side or the other around the circumference of the vessel lumen.  
         [0108]    While the exemplary embodiments have been described in some detail, by way of example and for clarity of understanding, a variety of adaptations, changes, and modifications will be obvious to those of skill in the art. Hence, the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the appended claims.