Patent ID: 8052704

Claim:
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end; said flexible tube having dimensions and flexibility compatible with migration through at least some arteries or veins or other body lumens of a living mammal; a catheter head with dimensions also compatible with migration through at least some arteries or veins or other body lumens of a living mammal; said catheter head comprising a substantially rigid housing coupled to the distal end of said flexible tube; said rigid housing comprising at least a window to the space outside said housing that also opens into a hollow inner portion of said housing; a tissue debulking assembly disposed at least partially within said rigid housing; wherein said tissue debulking assembly comprises a substantially circular rotatable cutter with an axis of rotation, said rotatable cutter being positioned distal of said inner portion of said housing, a source of rotational power and a drive assembly connecting said rotatable cutter to said source of rotational power, said drive assembly comprising a drive shaft extending distally from said rotatable cutter; and wherein said hollow inner portion of said housing comprises a collection chamber for tissue removed by said tissue debulking assembly and said hollow inner portion of said housing does not contain said drive assembly, whereby said hollow inner portion is substantially open for collection of tissue.