REMOVING TISSUE
Tissue can be removed from a patient with a catheter or other medical device having a cutting member. A source of suction can be coupled to the device for suctioning removed tissue through a lumen in the device and out of the patient's body.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A medical device comprising:
a main body portion including a distal end, the main body portion defining a longitudinal axis, the main body portion defining a lumen along at least a portion of its length, a distal port at the distal end, and a proximal port proximal to the distal end;
a cutting member operably coupled to the distal end of the main body portion, the cutting member being configured to rotate about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position when performing a cutting operation, the proximal port of the main body portion being in fluid communication with a suction source for removing tissue cut by the cutting member through the distal port and the lumen.
17 . (canceled)
18 . (canceled)
19 . The medical device of claim 16 , wherein the cutting member has a substantially arcuate shape and circumscribes a volume when moved from the first position to the second position.
20 . The medical device of claim 19 , further including an actuator for moving the cutting member from the first position to the second position.
21 . The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator includes a wire having a distal end, the distal end of the wire being operably coupled to the cutting member and being configured to circumscribe an arcuate path when the wire is moved along the longitudinal axis.
22 . The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the main body portion defines a lumen and the wire is disposed within the lumen.
23 . The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the wire is made from spring steel.
24 . The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the wire is made from a shape memory material.
25 . The medical device of claim 24 , wherein the wire is made from a nickel-titanium alloy.
26 . The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the cutting member moves from the first position to the second position when the wire is advanced in a distal direction with respect to the main body portion.
27 . The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the cutting member moves from the first position to the second position when the wire is advanced in a proximal direction with respect to the main body portion.
28 . The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator moves the cutting member from the first position to the second position by applying an electromagnetic force thereto.
29 . The medical device of claim 28 , wherein the actuator and the cutting member are configured to carry electrical currents in opposing paths.
30 . The medical device of claim 29 , further including a switching mechanism, a power supply and a controller operably associated with the switching mechanism and power supply, the controller adapted to operate the switching mechanism to alternate electrical current flowing through the actuator and cutting member to cause the cutting member to oscillate between the first position and the second position.
31 - 43 . (canceled)