Intravascular catheter having an expandable portion

1. A method for providing intravascular medical treatment comprising the steps of:

providing an intravascular device for medical treatment comprising a handle assembly comprising a control member, an expandable portion comprising a plurality of struts oriented with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion and configured to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, a tip member affixed to a distal end of said struts, a catheter tube extending from the handle assembly to the expandable portion and defining an inner lumen, a linkage disposed within the inner lumen and connected to the control member at a first end thereof and the tip member at a second end thereof, an attachment device located on at least one of the plurality of struts where said attachment device is configured to permit the selective interchangeability of one of a number of medical tools, and a recessed portion located at the at least one of the plurality of struts having the attachment mechanism located thereon, wherein the recessed portion is adapted to provide a substantially flat surface when the expandable portion is in the expanded position at the location where the attachment device is mounted to the at least one of the plurality of struts such that the attachment device remains substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the expanded position;

selecting one of the number of medical tools for attachment, wherein the medical tool is selected to provide a particular therapeutic or diagnostic effect when utilized at a zone of treatment;

attaching the selected medical tool to the expandable portion by way of the attachment device;

placing the expandable portion in the collapsed position;

manipulating the expandable portion to the zone of treatment within the person's vascular system;

placing the expandable portion into the expanded position;

utilizing the selected medical tool at the zone of treatment;

placing the expandable portion into the collapsed position; and

removing the expandable portion from the person's vascular system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a guide wire;

manipulating the guide wire to the zone of treatment within the person's vascular system; and

disposing the intravascular device atop the guide wire.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second one of the number of medical tools for attachment, wherein the second medical tool is selected to provide a particular therapeutic or diagnostic effect when utilized at the zone of treatment; and

attaching the second medical tool to the expandable portion by way of the attachment device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the number of medical tools is selected from a group consisting of: a diagnostic device, a drug delivery device, an atherectomy device, an incising element, a heating or cooling element, and a surgical device.

5. An apparatus for providing intravascular medical treatment comprising:

an expandable portion comprising a plurality of struts oriented with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion and configured for movement between a collapsed position and an expanded position;

a catheter tube extending from the expandable portion;

an attachment device located on one of the struts and configured to selectively receive, in an interchangeable fashion, one of a number of medical tools, wherein each of said number of medical tools are configured to provide a different medical effect at a zone of attention within a person's vascular system; and

an inner tube connected to said expandable portion and configured to effectuate movement of the expandable portion between the collapsed and expanded positions upon movement of said inner tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a handle assembly, wherein said catheter tube extends between said handle assembly and said expandable member;

a control mechanism located at said handle assembly and connected to said inner tube; and

an end cap connecting a distal end of each of said struts to said inner tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the attachment device is adapted to provide a substantially flat surface that remains substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion upon movement of the expandable portion into the expanded position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the number of medical tools comprise is selected from a group consisting of: a diagnostic device, a drug delivery device, an atherectomy device, an incising element, a heating or cooling element, and a surgical device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a recessed portion located on the one strut having the attachment mechanism located thereon, wherein said recessed portion is provided at a location of the attachment mechanism and is adapted to provide a flat surface when the expandable portion is in the expanded position.

10. A method for providing intravascular medical treatment comprising the steps of:

providing an intravascular device for medical treatment comprising a handle assembly comprising a control device, an expandable portion comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending struts, a tip member connected to a distal end of each of said struts, a catheter tube extending from the handle assembly to the expandable portion and defining an inner lumen, a linkage disposed within the inner lumen and connected to the control device at a first end thereof and the tip member at a second end thereof, an attachment device located at one of the struts and configured to interchangeably receive one of a number of different types of medical tools;

selecting one of the number of medical tools, wherein the medical tool is selected to provide a particular therapeutic or diagnostic effect at a zone of treatment;

securing the medical tool to the attachment device;

manipulating the control device to place the expandable portion in the collapsed position such that said struts extend along said linkage;

manipulating the expandable portion to the zone of treatment;

placing the expandable portion into the expanded position such that said struts bow outwardly;

utilizing the medical tool at the zone of treatment;

manipulating the control device to place the expandable portion in the collapsed position a second time; and

removing the expandable portion from the person's vascular system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said intravascular device comprises a recessed portion located at the strut having the attachment mechanism located thereon at a location of the attachment mechanism; and

the recessed portion is adapted to provide a flat surface when the expandable portion is in the expanded position at the location where the attachment device is mounted to the one of the struts such that the attachment device remains parallel with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the expanded position.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the number of medical tools is selected from the group consisting of: a diagnostic device, a drug delivery device, an atherectomy device, an incising element, a heating or cooling element, and a surgical device.