Patent ID: 8469979

Claim:
A catheter for removing tissue comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end and a tubular side wall having an outer surface defining an outer dimension of the elongate body and an inner surface defining a lumen, the elongate body having a distal portion with a window in the side wall, the lumen proximally adjacent the window comprising a material collection chamber; a rotational tissue cutting element disposed at least partially within the lumen of the elongate body, the tissue cutting element having a distal side and a proximal side, the tissue cutting element having an axis of rotation that extends through the material collection chamber; a source of rotational power; and a drive shaft connected between the source of rotational power and the distal side of the rotational tissue cutting element, no portion of the drive shaft being contained within the material collection chamber, such that the material collection chamber is substantially open for collection of tissue.