Atherectomy cutting device with eccentric wire

Claim 1

A device (10) for removing obstructive tissue from the lumen (12) of a body vessel (14) which comprises: a first wire (16) positionable in said lumen (12); a second wire (20) having a distal end slidably engaged with said first wire (16); and a rotatable cutter (18) supported by said second wire (20) for movement therewith along said first wire (16).

Claim 5

A device according to any preceding claim wherein said distal end of said second wire (20) is bent to establish an extension (32) oriented substantially perpendicular to said first wire (16).

Claim 10

A device according to any of claims 6 to 9 further comprising torque means (22) positioned over said eccentric wire (20) and fixedly attached to said cutter (18) for rotating said cutter (18).

Claim 13

A device according to any of claims 6 to 12 wherein said guide wire (16) is steerable.

Claim 14

A method for removing obstructive matter from a vessel, not being a vessel in a human or animal body, which method comprises the steps of: inserting a first wire (16) into the vessel across the obstructive matter; engaging an end of a second wire (20) with said first wire (16) for sliding movement of said end along said first wire (16); positioning a cutter (18) on said second wire (20) for movement of said cutter (18) with said second wire (20) along said first wire (16) to bring said cutter (18) into contact with the obstructive matter; rotating said cutter (18) to cut the obstructive matter; and manipulating said second wire (20) to move said cutter (18) in an arc about said first wire (16) to increase the portion of obstructive matter contacted by said cutter (18).