MATERIAL CAPTURING GUIDEWIRE
This disclosure discusses various methods and devices for capturing plaque that is to be removed from a blood vessel after the plaque has been separated from the blood vessel or remaining plaque.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of removing plaque within a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter into the blood vessel;
separating at least a portion of the plaque from the blood vessel using the catheter;
inserting a guidewire into the blood vessel;
attaching the portion of the plaque within the blood vessel to a portion of the guidewire; and
concurrently removing, from the blood vessel, the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire.
22 - 31 . (canceled)
32 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of removing the catheter from the blood vessel.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel prior to removing the catheter from the blood vessel.
34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel concurrently with removing the catheter from the blood vessel.
35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel after removing the catheter from the blood vessel.
36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the catheter comprises a blade for cutting the portion of the plaque from the blood vessel.
37 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the catheter comprises a plurality of laser emitters for ablating the portion of the plaque from the blood vessel.
38 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the guidewire comprises a plurality of protrusions extending radially therefrom.
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the protrusions are tines.
40 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the protrusions are barbs.
41 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the guidewire comprises at least one helically shaped flute.