Patent ID: 8226673

Claim:
An intravascular system for opening a lumen in a portion of an occluded blood vessel of a living being's vascular system, the occluded blood vessel portion being occluded by an occlusive material and being located downstream of a patent blood vessel portion, said system comprising a first catheter, a vessel-opening catheter, a debris blocking member, and a debris extraction system, said first catheter having a distal end portion including an opening, a passageway extending therethrough and in communication with said opening, said vessel-opening catheter extending through said first catheter and having a working head, said working head being arranged to be located immediately adjacent the occlusive material for operating on the occlusive material to open a lumen for the freer flow of blood therethrough, whereupon some debris may be produced, said debris blocking member being arranged to be located distally of the occluded blood vessel portion to block said debris, said debris extraction system being operative to introduce a liquid adjacent said working head and to cause debris and said liquid to flow proximally through said opening and said passageway for extraction, with said infusate liquid being introduced at a first flow rate and withdraws said liquid through said passageway at a second and higher flow rate to create a differential flow adjacent said working head, whereupon the debris is withdrawn by said differential flow and flows with said liquid proximally through said passageway for extraction.