Patent ID: 8465510

Claim:
A method of using an atherectomy system for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient, the system comprising an atherectomy device and a separate elongate drainage catheter having a drainage lumen for removal of embolic particles produced by the atherectomy device during an atherectomy procedure, the method including: introducing the atherectomy device and the separate elongate drainage catheter into the patient's vasculature through respective openings located in separate peripheral arteries of the patient, and advancing the separate elongate drainage catheter to a location in which a distal end of the separate drainage catheter is located proximal to a stenotic lesion so that embolic particles produced by the atherectomy device are entrained by retrograde flowing fluid and are aspirated together with the fluid into the drainage lumen of the separate drainage catheter for removal of said embolic particles from the patient's body; temporarily engaging the atherectomy device and the drainage catheter with each other at a location proximal to the stenotic lesion using an occlusion balloon positioned along one of the atherectomy device and the drainage catheter.