Patent ID: 8062298

Claim:
A method for removing target tissue from a patient, the method comprising: advancing a guidewire into the body and around the target tissue so that the proximal end of the guidewire extends from a first position outside of the patient's body and the distal end of the guidewire extends from a second position outside of the patient; coupling the proximal end of the guidewire to a tissue modification device outside of the body after advancing the guidewire into the body, wherein the tissue modification device is for removing tissue and comprises an elongate flexible body having a plurality of blades extending therefrom; pulling the tissue modification device behind the guidewire to position it along a path between the target tissue and non-target tissue, wherein the proximal end of the guidewire remains within the body; and advancing the blades into the target tissue by manually reciprocating the elongate body axially along the path while a portion of the guidewire remains within the body.