Patent ID: 7963960

Claim:
A cutting radio frequency (RF) catheter assembly comprising: an inner member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said inner member travels through a lumen when deploying said cutting RF catheter assembly to a location for cutting a prosthesis in the lumen; an RF electrode distal to the distal end of said inner member; a sheath radially constraining said RF electrode and enclosing the inner member, wherein said sheath travels through the lumen when deploying said cutting RF catheter assembly to said location for the cutting the prosthesis in the lumen; and wherein upon retraction of said sheath, said RF electrode is exposed and self expands into a circular shape; an RF conductor electrically connected to said RF electrode, and extending through said inner member and exiting the inner member at the distal end of the inner member; a guide wire in said guide wire lumen of said inner member and exiting the inner member at the distal end of the inner member when the RF conductor is extending through said inner member and exiting the inner member, wherein upon the expansion of the RF electrode into the circular shape, the guide wire is movable through, and movable distal to the circular shape of the RF electrode while the RF electrode is deployed; and a handle, said inner member being fixed relative to said handle, said sheath being movable relative to said handle.