Patent ID: 7713279

Claim:
A method of removing material from a vascular location, comprising the steps of: providing a cutting device having an elongate body and a rotatable cutting element, the elongate body having an opening therein, the rotatable cutting element being coupled to a torque transmitting element which extends through the elongate body, the elongate body having a deformable portion located proximal of the cutting element; advancing the cutting device through a patient's vascular system, the cutting element being in a stored position in which the cutting element is not exposed; withdrawing the cutting element proximally with respect to the elongate body after the advancing step to move the cutting element from the stored position to a working position and to deform the deformable portion, the deformable portion being deformed toward a predetermined deformed position; and moving the cutting element and the opening through the vascular system with the cutting element being in the working position and while the deformable portion is deformed toward the predetermined deformed position, wherein at least part of the rotatable cutting element is exposed to cut tissue when in the working position, the cut tissue being directed through the opening when the cutting element and opening are moved through the vascular system.