Patent ID: 7828796

Claim:
A method for creating a channel through an occlusion located in a substantially elongated body vessel of a patient, said occlusion including an occlusion harder portion extending substantially longitudinally relatively to said body vessel and an occlusion softer portion extending substantially longitudinally relatively to said body vessel, said occlusion softer portion being located substantially adjacent to and substantially coaxially with said occlusion harder portion, said occlusion harder portion being substantially harder than said occlusion softer portion, said method using a channel creating apparatus defining an apparatus distal end portion insertable into said body vessel, said channel creating apparatus including an energy delivery component operatively coupled to said apparatus distal end portion for delivering energy substantially adjacent said apparatus distal end portion, said method comprising: inserting said apparatus distal end portion into said body vessel; positioning said apparatus distal end portion substantially adjacent said occlusion harder portion, and creating a channel first portion through said occlusion harder portion by delivering said energy into said occlusion harder portion using said energy delivery component; determining if said apparatus distal end portion is located adjacent said occlusion softer portion by attempting to push said apparatus distal end portion through said occlusion substantially without delivering energy using said energy delivery component; and upon said apparatus distal end portion being able to be pushed through said occlusion, creating a channel second portion through said occlusion softer portion by pushing said apparatus distal end portion through at least a portion of said occlusion softer portion, substantially without using said energy delivery component to deliver energy into said occlusion softer portion.