Method and system for reversibly controlled drilling of luminal occlusions

1. A luminal drilling system comprising:

a rotational penetrating device including an elongate member, and a drive shaft extending through said member and having a drill tip which emerges distally from a distal end of the drilling device;

a motor connectable to a proximal portion of the drive shaft to rotationally drive the drive shaft;

a load sensor coupled to the motor or to the drive shaft, wherein the sensor produces an output signal which is representative of the rotational load on the drill tip as said tip is rotated and advanced through occlusive material in a body lumen; and

motor control circuitry which reverses the direction of rotation of the motor when the sensed rotational load meets or exceeds a threshold value.

2. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises a tube having a diameter in the range from 0.008 in. to 0.04 in.

3. A luminal drilling system as in claim 2 , wherein the motor may be detached from the drive shaft.

4. A luminal drilling system as in claim 2 , wherein the motor includes a coupling for removably attaching the motor to the drive shaft.

5. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , wherein the drill tip of the drilling device is adapted to penetrate equally well when rotated in either direction.

6. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , wherein the motor is controllable to rotate at a maximum speed in the range from 5,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm.

7. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , wherein the load sensor measures current consumption by the motor, wherein increased current consumption indicates an increase in load.

8. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , wherein the load sensor measures rotational speed of the motor or drive shaft, wherein decreased rotational speed indicates an increase in load.

9. A luminal drilling system as in claim 1 , further comprising circuitry which produces a visual and/or audible output in response to the output signal of the load sensor.

10. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9 , wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when the load is below the threshold value and a second output level when the load is at or above the threshold value to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

11. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9 , wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when there is minimal load, a second output level when there is load below the threshold value, and a third output level when load is at or above the threshold value to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

12. A rotational driver for a luminal rotational penetrating device which includes an elongate body and a drive shaft extending through said body and having a drill tip which emerges distally from a distal end of the elongate body, the driver comprising:

a motor adapted to rotational drive the drive shaft;

a load sensor coupled to the motor or to the drive shaft, wherein said sensor produces an output signal which is representative of the rotational load on the drill tip as said tip is rotated and advanced through occlusive material in a body lumen; and

motor control circuitry which reverses the direction of rotation of the motor when the sensed rotational load meets or exceeds a threshold value.

13. A rotational driver as in claim 12 , wherein the motor is controllable to rotate at a maximum speed in the range from 5,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm.

14. A rotational driver as in claim 12 , wherein the load sensor measures current consumption by the motor, wherein increased current consumption indicates an increase in load.

15. A rotational driver as in claim 12 , wherein the load sensor measures rotational speed of the motor or drive shaft, wherein decreased rotational speed indicates an increase in load.

16. A rotational driver as in claim 12 , further comprising circuitry which produces a visual and/or audible output in response to the output signal of the load sensor.

17. A rotational driver as in claim 16 , wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when the load is below the threshold value and a second output level when the load is at or above the threshold value to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

18. A rotational driver as in claim 16 , wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when there is minimal load, a second output level when there is load below the threshold, and a third output level when load is at or above the threshold value to indicate that the motor direction is changing.