Patent ID: 7981129

Claim:
An intravascular system for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel portion of a living being's vascular system, said occluded blood vessel portion being occluded by an occlusive material and being located downstream of a patent blood vessel portion, said system comprising: a catheter; and an instrument having a working head and debris extraction means, said instrument arranged to be extended through said catheter to form a passageway therebetween, said working head of said instrument being arranged to operate on the occlusive material in the interior of the occluded blood vessel portion to open a lumen therein for the flow of blood therethrough, whereupon some debris may be produced from the occlusive material by the operation of said working head, said debris extraction means introducing an infusate liquid at a first flow rate adjacent said working head and withdrawing said liquid at a second and higher flow rate to create a differential flow adjacent said working head, whereupon debris produced by the operation of said working head is withdrawn by said differential flow through said passageway for collection remote from the occluded vessel portion and is prevented from flowing into any upstream blood vessel or downstream blood vessel.