Patent ID: 8226674

Claim:
An atherectomy device for removing material from a vascular location comprising: an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, a first interlocking member, and a first guidewire lumen which is radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the elongate body; a torque transmitting element contained within the elongate body, the torque transmitting element being rotatable; an opening in the elongate body proximal to the distal end of the elongate body; a cutting element coupled to the torque transmitting element, the cutting element being rotated by the torque transmitting element when cutting material from the vascular location, the cutting element being oriented to direct the material being cut from the vascular location through the opening; and a containment chamber having proximal and distal ends, a second interlocking member, and a second guidewire lumen which is radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the containment chamber, the first interlocking member being configured to engage with the second interlocking member, the first interlocking member being movable with respect to the second interlocking member from an unlocked position where the containment chamber is not attached to the elongate body to a locked position where the containment chamber is attached to the elongate body, the first and second interlocking members being configured such that the presence of a guidewire received within the first and second guidewire lumens prevents the containment chamber from moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, the containment chamber being configured for receiving the material passing through the opening which has been cut by the cutting element.