Patent ID: 8114106

Claim:
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end, said flexible tube having a distal end; a working head, said working head having a proximal end, said working head having a distal end, said proximal end of said working head being connected to said distal end of said tube; said working head having a cylindrical bore open from said proximal end of said working head, said working head having an end wall spanning and capping said cylindrical bore at said distal end of said working head; a guide wire extending through said tube and through said cylindrical bore, and said guide wire extending out of a hole in said end wall of said working head; a flexible transport screw extending from said proximal end of said tube through said tube to said distal end of said working head, said flexible transport screw provided with helically extending transport surfaces; said flexible transport screw connected to a rotary drive configured to rotate said flexible transport screw; said flexible transport screw having a proximal end, and said flexible transport screw having a distal end configured to rotate relative to said end wall, wherein said distal end abuts said end wall; said flexible transport screw having a distal part disposed in said cylindrical bore, said flexible transport screw distal part forming a helix, said helix having an external diameter fitting the diameter of said cylindrical bore to rotate therein in contact therewith; said flexible transport screw distal part having sharp edges; a first lateral opening in said working head, said first lateral opening having internal edges cooperating with said flexible transport screw distal part edges to shear and comminute material; said flexible tube distal end having a proximate flexible tube distal end portion, said flexible tube distal end portion including a helical spring, said helical spring encased in a thin-walled plastic sheath; and, said flexible tube distal end portion is connected to said working head proximal end.