US20070276419A1 - Methods and devices for rotating an active element and an energy emitter on a catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

A tissue cutting device includes a sizing element which detects the diameter of the vessel in which the cutting device is positioned. The sizing element is coupled to the cutting element so that the amount of the cutting element that is exposed varies in response to movement of the sizing element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled Methods and Devices for Cutting Tissue at a Vascular Location, filed ______ by Mike Rosenthal (Atty Docket No. 018489-002543US) which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is directed to devices and methods for cutting tissue. In a specific application, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for re-entering the true lumen from a subintimal space such as a dissection plane or so-called “false lumen.”
• Guidewires and other interventional devices are used to treat vessels and organs using endovascular approaches. A guidewire is typically guided through blood vessels to the treatment site and the device is then advanced over the guidewire. For example, angioplasty and stenting are generally accomplished by first introducing a guidewire to the desired site and then advancing the angioplasty or stent catheter over the guidewire.
• When attempting to advance a guidewire or other interventional device through a highly stenosed region or chronic total occlusion (CTO), the guidewire or device may inadvertently enter into the wall of the vessel to create a sub-intimal space. Once in a sub-intimal space, it can be difficult to re-enter the vessel true lumen. Devices for reentering a vessel true lumen from a subintimal location are described in WO 02/45598 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Various aspects of the invention are directed to methods and devices for re-entering a lumen during an endovascular procedure. In one embodiment, the device has a cutter, an opening, and an energy emitter coupled to the cutter. The device is advanced into the subintimal space and energy is then emitted from the energy emitter to locate the true lumen. In one aspect, the energy emitter and cutting element are moved together which exposes the cutting element to cut an access path into the true lumen. In another aspect of the present invention, the device may have a bendable tip which is bent while cutting tissue to create the access path or may be bent to direct the device or a guidewire through the access path.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the device has a rotatable cutting element which may be moved from a stored position to a cutting position which exposes over 180 degrees, and even 220 or even 270 degrees of the cutting element relative to the axis of rotation. In another aspect of the invention, the cutter may be gradually exposed as necessary. In still another aspect of the present invention, the body of device may be wider along a portion of the device to urge tissue toward the cutting element. The opening is relatively large and may be open at the distal end and may expose at least part of the cutter at all positions distal to the opening. The open end of the device permits the tissue to naturally move toward the cutter due to the generally open nature of the distal end.
• In still another aspect of the present invention, a system for accessing a subintimal space includes a catheter through which the tissue cutting device is advanced. The catheter may be coupled to a fluid source to inject contrast or the like and may also be coupled to a pressure monitor for monitoring pressure to determine when the access path has been created as described in greater detail below.
• In a still further aspect of the invention, a method of entering a true lumen from a false lumen during an endovascular procedure is provided. A guidewire is positioned in the subintimal space. A reentry device is then advanced over the guidewire to the target location in the subintimal space. The access path is then created using the reentry device to cut the access path. The same guidewire is then directed through the access path. The reentry device may have two different openings with the first being used during advancement of the reentry device and a second opening through which the guidewire extends when being directed through the access path. The first opening may be configured to direct the guidewire substantially longitudinal while the second opening directs the guidewire at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
• The present invention is also directed to a device for cutting tissue which automatically adjusts the position of the tissue cutting element in response to changes in vessel size. The device has a sizer coupled to the body which moves in response changes in vessel size. The sizer is coupled to the tissue cutting element so that the tissue cutting element changes position relative to the body when the vessel size changes. When the vessel size decreases, the tissue cutting element is moved to expose more of the cutting element. When the vessel size increases, the cutting element is moved to expose less of the cutting element. The term vessel size as used herein is used to generally describe a lateral dimension of the vessel.
• These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.
• In another aspect of the present invention, a catheter is provided which has a rotating active element and a rotating energy emitter. The active element is mounted to a shaft which has a lumen. The energy emitter is mounted to another shaft which extends through the lumen in the shaft of the active element. The energy emitting element and the active element may both be coupled to and driven by a single rotating driver. Although both rotating elements may be driven by the same driver, the elements may rotate independently which may provide advantages over devices which couple the energy emitter and cutting element (or other active element) together. A problem with devices which couple the energy emitter to another rotating element, such as a cutting element, is that rotation of the energy emitting element may be disrupted by resistance met by the cutting element during rotation. Disruption in rotation of the energy emitting element can negatively impact the ability to gather useful information from the energy received.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows a view of the system of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 shows a guidewire positioned proximate to a total occlusion.
• FIG. 3 shows a subintimal space created adjacent a true lumen by the guidewire.
• FIG. 4 shows a reentry device of the present invention advanced over the guidewire to the subintimal space.
• FIG. 5 shows a guidewire positioned in the true lumen.
• FIG. 6 shows the reentry device with the cutting element in a stored position.
• FIG. 7 shows the reentry device with the cutting element in a cutting position.
• FIG. 8 is a side view of the reentry device ofFIG. 7.
• FIG. 9 shows another reentry device with the cutting element in a stored position.
• FIG. 10 shows the reentry device ofFIG. 9 with the cutting element in a cutting position and the distal portion bent.
• FIG. 11 shows the reentry device ofFIGS. 9 and 10 with the cutting element advanced to another cutting position which exposes even more of the cutting element and also bends the distal tip further.
• FIG. 12 shows another reentry device which has a bendable distal portion.
• FIG. 13 shows the reentry device ofFIG. 12 with the distal portion bent.
• FIG. 14 shows still another reentry device with a cutting element which may be tilted.
• FIG. 15 shows the reentry device ofFIG. 14 with the cutting element tilted to expose more of the cutting element and to move the cutting element through the opening in the body of the device.
• FIG. 16 shows the reentry device ofFIG. 6 having a junction leading to two separate guidewire outlets with the guidewire positioned in the first outlet during advancement of the device over the guidewire.
• FIG. 17 shows the reentry device ofFIG. 16 with the guidewire extending through the second outlet for directing the guidewire into the true lumen.
• FIG. 18 shows a catheter having a lumen for receiving a guidewire and another lumen which receives the reentry device.
• FIG. 19 shows another catheter having a single lumen through which the guidewire and reentry device pass.
• FIG. 20 shows an external view of another device for cutting tissue having a sizer.
• FIG. 21 shows another external view of the device ofFIG. 20.
• FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the device ofFIGS. 20 and 21.
• FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the device ofFIGS. 20 and 21 with the sizer moved inward.
• FIG. 24 shows another catheter for cutting tissue.
• FIG. 25 shows a proximal end of the catheter ofFIG. 24.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring toFIGS. 1-8, a system2 anddevice4 for reentering a true lumen from a subintimal space, dissection plane or so-called false lumen is shown. Thedevice4 includes acutting element6 coupled to a torque transmitting element8, such as awire10, which rotates the cuttingelement6. Thedevice4 has anopening12 at adistal end14 with the cuttingelement6 movable between a stored position (FIG. 6) and a cutting position (FIGS. 7 and 8) which exposes the cuttingelement6. The cuttingelement6 may be anysuitable cutting element6 such as the cuttingelement6 described in patents incorporated by reference above. The cuttingelement6 has a circular cutting edge which has a diameter of about I mm although any suitable size may be used depending upon the particular application. The cuttingelement6 may also be any other type of cutter such as a laser, ultrasound, RF or other type of cutter without departing from various aspects of the present invention.
• Thedevice4 has aflexible body16 to navigate through blood vessels or other body lumens to a target location. Thebody16 may be made of any suitable material as is known in the art such as Pebax. The torque transmitting element8 extends through alumen18 in thebody16. Thebody16 may have more lumens for various reasons such as introduction of fluids, such as contrast, or for delivery of anotherdevice4 such as a guidewire or interventional device. The torque transmitting element8 is coupled to adriver20 which rotates the torque transmitting element8 at a variable or fixed speed.
• Thedevice4 may also have anenergy emitting element22, such as anultrasound element25, which emits (and may receive) energy to determine the location of the true lumen as explained below. Theenergy emitting element22 is coupled to thecutting element6 so that theenergy emitting element22 and cuttingelement6 are rotated together. The cuttingelement6 is in the stored position when locating the true lumen so that the cuttingelement6 is not exposed and will not cut or damage tissue. Theenergy emitting element22 is positioned adjacent awindow24 which may be aside opening26 or may simply be a portion of the sidewall which transmits a sufficient amount of the energy therethrough. Any suitableenergy emitting element22 may be used such as the ultrasound emitting element available from Boston Scientific and is marketed under the name Atlantis™. The cuttingelement6 may be mounted to a collar which is then mounted to anultrasound element holder28 or thecutting element6 may be integrally formed with theultrasound element holder28.
• Thedevice4 has anatraumatic tip34 which is relatively flexible to prevent damaging tissue. Thetip34 may be a separate piece laminated or glued to thebody16. Thetip34 is preferably made out of a relatively soft, flexible material, such as tecothane, and may be used for blunt dissection as necessary. A reinforcingelement36 is encapsulated in thetip34 to help thetip34 maintain its general shape. Thetip34 may also have one or moreguidewire lumens38 or any of the guidewire features described herein.
• Theopening12 in the distal portion may be designed to expose over 180 degrees of the cuttingelement6 and may even expose 220 degrees or even 270 degrees of the cuttingelement6 as defined by the axis of rotation. This provides advantages over WO 02/45598 which does not expose much of the cuttingelement6 and requires invagination of the tissue within the opening to cut tissue. In another aspect of the invention, the cuttingelement6 may be gradually exposed. For example, the cuttingelement6 may be gradually exposed from 180-220 degrees or even 200-270 degrees. As explained below, this feature provides the user with the ability to change the amount ofcutter6 that is exposed depending upon the tissue thickness between the subintimal location and true lumen. Theterm opening12 and amount of exposure of the cuttingelement6 are defined by the outer bounds of theopening12 and the axis of rotation. Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, the cuttingelement6 is exposed relative to the outer bounds of theopening12 due to the relatively open distal end.
• Referring toFIGS. 9-11, anotherdevice4A for reentering a true lumen from a subintimal location is shown wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar structure. Thedevice4A also has anopening12A at the distal end to expose thecutting element6A.FIG. 9 shows thecutting element6A in a stored position,FIG. 10 shows thecutting element6A in a first cutting position andFIG. 11 shows thecutting element6A in a second cutting position which further exposes theelement6A. Thedevice4A also has thewindow24 through which theenergy emitting element22, such as the ultrasound element, may emit energy when thecutting element6A is in the stored position.
• Adistal portion40 of the body can bend or articulate to further expose thecutting element6A and to move thecutting element6A toward true lumen. The body hasslots42 formed therein to increase the flexibility of thedistal portion40. The cuttingelement6A has asurface44 which engages alip46 on the body. As thecutting element6A is advanced, the interaction between thesurface44 andlip46 causes thedistal portion40 to deflect. Bending thedistal portion40 can be helpful in moving thecutting element6A toward the tissue and may also expose more of thecutting element6A. As also explained below, thetip40 may also be bent to direct thedevice4A itself or a guidewire into the true lumen. The cuttingelement6A may also be gradually exposed as thecutting element6A moves distally and may be gradually exposed in the same manner described above.
• Referring toFIGS. 12 and 13, another reentry device4B is shown which has a distal portion ortip60 which bends or articulates. Thetip60 may be articulated and actuated in any suitable manner. For example, thetip60 may be bent upon longitudinal movement of the cutting element6 (as shown above) or a separate actuator, such as apull wire62, may be used. As can be appreciated fromFIG. 13, thetip60 is bent or articulated to move thecutting element6 toward the true lumen and to expose more of the cuttingelement6. The device4B may also be bent to direct the device4B itself or another device or guidewire through theguidewire lumen38 to the access path into the true lumen as described further below.
• Referring toFIGS. 14 and 15, still anotherdevice4C for cutting tissue is shown wherein the same or similar numbers refer to the same or similar structure. Thedevice4C includes a cutting element6C, an energy emitting element22C and a torque transmitter8C for rotating the elements. Thedevice4C has anopening64 along one side. The cutting element6C is contained within theopening64 in the stored position ofFIG. 14 and extends out of theopening64 in the cutting position ofFIG. 15. The cutting element6C is moved out of thewindow24 using anactuator68, such as awire70, which tilts abearing72 supporting the shaft of the rotatable cutting element6C. Of course, any other suitable structure may be used to move the cutting element6C outside theopening64 such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,525 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Furthermore, the cutting element6C may be moved out of theopening64 by bending the distal portion or tip as described herein.
• Use of thedevices4,4A-C is now described with reference to thedevice4 although it is understood that any of thedevices4,4A-C may be used. As mentioned above, thedevice4 may be used to perform any suitable procedure to cut from one location to another in the body such as a procedure to reenter a true lumen. Thedevice4 is initially advanced to a position within a subintimal space SS. As described above, the subintimal space SS may be inadvertently created during an endovascular procedure with a guidewire GW or other device creating the subintimal space SS as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Thedevice4 may be introduced over the same guidewire GW or device which created the subintimal space SS as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Of course, thedevice4 may also be advanced over the guidewire GW to a position proximate to the subintimal space SS after which thedevice4 is then advanced by itself into the subintimal space SS.
• After thedevice4 is positioned at the appropriate location in the subintimal space SS, theenergy emitting element22 is used to determine the location of the true lumen. When using theultrasound element28, for example, theultrasound element28 is rotated while emitting ultrasound energy and the energy emitted through thewindow24 and reflected back through thewindow24 is processed as is known in the art. Theentire device4 is rotated within the subintimal space SS to orient thewindow24 until the true lumen is located. The angular orientation of thedevice4 is then maintained so that theopening12 andwindow24 are directed toward the true lumen.
• The cuttingelement6 is then moved to the cutting position to expose thecutting element6. The cuttingelement6 may be rotated with thedriver20 during this time so that cutting is initiated as the cuttingelement6 is exposed. In another aspect of the invention, theentire device4 itself may be moved through the subintimal space to cut tissue. This provides advantages over the method of WO 02/45598 which requires invagination of tissue through a window to attempt a cut at one location. If the tissue does not invaginate sufficiently into the window, such as when the tissue is too thick, the device of WO 02/45598 will not be able to cut completely through the tissue to create the access path to the true lumen. The user must then move the device and again attempt to invaginate enough tissue to cut an access path. The present invention provides the ability to move theentire device4 through the subintimal space to create the access path rather than attempting a cut at a single discrete location as in WO 02/45598. Of course, thedevice4 may also be used by moving only the cuttingelement6 rather than theentire device4 without departing from the invention.
• The cuttingelement6 may also be exposed to varying degrees, as described above, until enough of the cuttingelement6 is exposed to cut through to the true lumen. For example, the user may choose to expose half of the cuttingelement6 and attempt to create an access path to the true lumen. If an access path is not created, the user may then choose to expose more of the cuttingelement6 and again attempt to create an access path. This procedure can be repeated until the access path is formed to the true lumen. Thedevice4A,4B may be also have a distal tip orportion40,60 which bends to move thecutting element6 toward the tissue and/or expose more of the cuttingelement6 during cutting.
• After successfully creating the access path into the true lumen, thedevice4 itself or part thereof may be directed toward or through the access path. Referring toFIGS. 9-13, for example, the distal portion ortip40,60 may be bent to help direct thedevice4A,4B itself or the guidewire GW through the access path.
• Referring toFIGS. 16 and 17, anotherdevice4D, similar todevice4, is shown which has aguidewire lumen74 having ajunction76 so the guidewire can be directed through either afirst lumen77 having afirst outlet78 or asecond lumen79 having asecond outlet80. Thefirst outlet78 directs the guidewire substantially longitudinally for advancing thedevice4D over the guidewire to the target area in a conventional manner. Thesecond outlet80 directs the guidewire at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, such as 30-75 degrees, to direct the guidewire through the access path into the true lumen.
• Thejunction76 may include a feature which directs the guidewire into thesecond outlet80. Referring toFIG. 17, for example, thejunction76 may include a flap or stop82 which closes and prevents or inhibits the guidewire from passing through thefirst outlet78 after the guidewire has been withdrawn proximal to thejunction76. When the guidewire is advanced again as shown inFIG. 17, the guidewire passes through thesecond outlet80 due to thestop82. Thedevice4 and/or guidewire GW are then manipulated to direct the guidewire GW through the access path. Although thestop82 may be provided, thejunction76 may also simply be a relativelyopen junction76 with the user manipulating and rotating the guidewire GW to direct the guidewire GW through the desiredoutlet78,80. The device is rotated about 180 degrees after creating the access path to direct the GW throughoutlet80 and into the true lumen.
• Referring toFIGS. 18 and 19, the system2 may also include a sheath orcatheter90 which is advanced proximal to the treatment site. Thesheath90 may help provide better control of the guidewire GW anddevices4 of the present invention during manipulation in the subintimal space. Thesheath90 may also used to deliver contrast solution to the treatment site from a source of contrast97 (seeFIG. 1) or may be coupled to a pressure sensor94. The pressure sensor94 may be part of thecontrast delivery system97 or may be a separate component. Deliver of contrast and/or pressure monitoring may be used to determine when the access path has been created.
• Thesheath90 may include only onelumen92 with fluid delivery and pressure sensing being accomplished in the annular space between the device and sheath as shown inFIG. 19. Thesheath90 may also have first andsecond lumens96,98 for separate delivery of thedevice4 and guidewire GW. As mentioned above, thedevices4 of the present invention may be advanced over the same guidewire or device that created the subintimal space or may be advanced over another guidewire or even through thesheath90 by itself.
• After accessing the true lumen, another interventional device may be introduced into the true lumen for the intended therapy or procedure. For example, a stent catheter, angioplasty catheter, or atherectomy device may be used to treat the occlusion. The present invention has been described for reentering a true lumen from a subintimal space but, of course, may be used for other purposes to gain access from one space to another anywhere within the body.
• Referring toFIGS. 20-23, anotherdevice100 for cutting tissue is shown wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar structure. Thedevice100 includes anelongate body116 and acutting element106 coupled to adrive element108 which is rotated to drive the cuttingelement106. Thedrive element108 extends through alumen118 in thebody116 and is driven by a driver (not shown) at the proximal end. The cuttingelement106 may be anysuitable cutting element106 including those described in the applications incorporated herein. The cuttingelement106 has an essentiallycircular cutting surface107 along the leading edge of the cuttingelement106.
• Thebody116 has anopening112 therein and thetissue cutter106 is movable from the stored position ofFIGS. 20 and 22 to the cutting position ofFIG. 23. When moved to the cutting position ofFIG. 23, part of thetissue cutting element116 becomes exposed relative toopening112. Theopening112 may be a side opening as shown inFIGS. 20-23 or may be a distal opening as shown in other devices described herein such as the devices ofFIGS. 1-19. Thetissue cutting element106 moves relative to thebody116 so that a cuttingheight117 of thetissue cutting element106 changes as the position of the cutting element changes relative to thebody116. The cuttingheight117 is defined by a maximum distance from the cuttingsurface107 to an outer surface109 of thebody116.
• Thedevice100 has asizer119 coupled to thebody116 which automatically adjusts the cuttingheight117 based on vessel size. Thesizer119 is naturally biased to an outer position ofFIG. 22 by aspring122 which defines a maximum width of the device along thesizer119. Thesizer119 is moved inward from the position ofFIG. 22 when contact with the vessel wall overcomes the force biasing thesizer119 outward. In simplistic terms, thesizer119 is essentially moved inward by the vessel wall when the vessel size is smaller than the width of thedevice100. Thus, thesizer119 moves between the positions ofFIGS. 22 and 23 as the diameter of the vessel varies within a given range. When the vessel diameter is larger than the diameter of thedevice100, thetissue cutting element106 will remain in the stored position ofFIG. 22. Stated another way, thesizer119 is coupled to thetissue cutting element106 so that an outward force is applied to thetissue cutting element106 when thesizer119 moves inward. The outward force on thetissue cutting element106 being directed away from thebody116.
• Thesizer119 is coupled to thetissue cutting element106 so that the amount of exposure of the cutting element, such as thecutter height117, changes when the vessel diameter changes. In the embodiment ofFIG. 16, the exposure of thetissue cutting element106 is increased when the vessel diameter decreases so that a deeper cut is made in smaller vessels. A deeper cut may be desired when removing tissue in smaller vessels to increase the flow of blood through the vessel. The user may still move thetissue cutting element106 to the cutting position ofFIG. 23 by pulling on thedrive element108 so that acontact surface123 on thesizer119 engages aramp126 on aninner wall128 of thebody116 to move thecutting element106 to the position ofFIG. 23.
• Thetissue cutting device100 may be used to cut tissue for any purpose. Furthermore, thedevice100 has been described in connection with cutting tissue in blood vessels but may be used for any other purpose in the vasculature. The tissue may be cut and left within the body or may be removed in any suitable manner. For example, thedevice100 may include atissue collection chamber130 coupled to thebody116 distal to thecutting element106. Thetissue cutting element106 cuts tissue and directs the tissue into thecollection chamber130. The tissue cut by thetissue cutting element106 is parted off from the surrounding tissue by moving the cuttingelement106 back to the stored position.
• Referring toFIG. 24, anothercatheter200 is shown which is similar to thedevice100 described above and description of thedevice100 is incorporated here. Thecatheter200 has anelongate body232 and anactive element205, such as atissue cutting element206, which is mounted to a drive shaft208. The drive shaft208 is positioned in alumen210 in thebody232. Thebody232 has anopening234 and thecutting element206 is movable relative to theopening234 between the stored position ofFIG. 24 and a cutting position in which thecutting element206 extends out of the opening234 (not shown).
• Anenergy emitting element222, such as an ultrasound element224, is mounted to ashaft223 positioned in alumen225 in the drive shaft208 of theactive element205. Theenergy emitting element222 emits energy toward tissue which is reflected back from the tissue to thecatheter200 and measured by thecatheter200 to provide information about the vasculature. The energy reflected back to thecatheter200 may be received by theenergy emitting element222 itself, such as when using the ultrasound element224, or may be received by another part of thecatheter200 other than theemitter222. The energy which is received back at thecatheter200 is then processed as is known in the art to provide the user with information such as an image of the vessel.
• The drive shaft208 and thebody232 each have apart235,237 adjacent to theemitter222 which permits energy to pass therethrough. Energy reflected back at thecatheter200 from the tissue may also pass back through theparts235,237 of thebody232 and shaft208 to be received by theemitter222 or another part of thecatheter200. Of course, thecatheter200 may also have an open window through which energy is emitted rather than directing energy through parts of thebody232 and/or shaft208.
• Referring now toFIGS. 24 and 25, thedrive shafts208,223 of theenergy emitting element222 and theactive element205 may both be coupled to and driven by a singlerotating driver230. Although bothrotating elements205,222 may be driven by the same driver, theelements205,222 may rotate somewhat independently which may provide advantages over devices which couple the energy emitter and cutting element (or other active element) together. A problem with devices which couple the energy emitter to another rotating element, such as a cutting element, is that rotation of the energy emitting element may be disrupted by resistance met by the cutting element during rotation. Disruption in rotation of the energy emitting element can negatively impact the ability to gather useful information from the energy received. Separating theenergy emitting element222 from the cuttingelement206 isolates theenergy emitting element222 from potential disruptions caused by disruptions in rotation of the cuttingelement206. To this end, the twodrive shafts208,223 may be unattached to one another for a length of at least 10 cm or at least 20 cm from the energy emitting element. Thedrive shafts208,223 are free of attachments to one another until they reach aproximal hub239 which couples the twoshafts208,223 together as shown in the schematic representation ofFIG. 25. Thehub239 is coupled to aconnector241 on thedriver230 so that the proximal end of theshafts208,223 essentially rotate together. Although the proximal ends of theshafts208,223 may be coupled together, theenergy emitting element222 and cuttingelement205 at the distal ends of theshafts208,223 are somewhat free to rotate relative to one another since eachshaft208,223 acts like a torsion spring which stores and releases energy as necessary. For example, the cuttingelement206 may encounter resistance which slows or stops rotation. The shaft208 will act like a torsion spring which permits thecutting element206 to lag behind rotation of theenergy emitting element222. Of course, the twoshafts208,223 may be free to rotate relative to one another along their entire length without departing from numerous aspects of the invention.
• Although thecatheter200 has been described in connection with cutting tissue, thecatheter200 may use any other suitable active element which is rotated such as an ablating element, a diagnostic tool, or a drug delivery element. The tissue which has been cut may be left in the body or removed in any suitable manner. For example, thecatheter200 may also have atissue collection element236 positioned distal to thecutting element206. The cuttingelement206 cuts tissue and directs the tissue through theopening234 in thebody232 and into thetissue collection element230 as thecatheter200 is advanced.
• The present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, however, it is understood that numerous alternatives and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (16)

1. A method of rotating an element and an energy emitting element on a catheter, comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter having an elongate body, a rotating element and an energy emitting element, the rotating element including a first elongate shaft having a lumen therein, the energy emitting element being mounted to a second elongate shaft which is positioned in the lumen of the first elongate shaft, the rotating element and energy emitting element being free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 10 cm from the energy emitting element;

advancing the catheter through a blood vessel to a vascular location;

rotating the rotating element and the energy emitting element;

emitting energy from the energy emitting element during the rotating step; and

receiving energy at the catheter which was emitted by the energy emitting element and reflected back from the tissue to the catheter.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein:

the rotating step is carried out with the rotating element and the energy emitting element both coupled to a single rotating driver.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the rotating element being a tissue cutting element.

4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising the step of:

cutting tissue with the tissue cutting element;

the providing step is carried out with the tissue cutting element being movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the tissue cutting device having an opening, wherein a part of the tissue cutting element extends through the opening when moving from the stored position to the cutting position.

5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein:

the cutting step is carried out by advancing the cutting element and the opening in a distal direction, wherein tissue cut by the cutting element is directed distally by the cutting element into a tissue collection element positioned distal to the cutting element.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the catheter having a tissue collection element, the tissue collection element being positioned distal to the cutting element.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein:

the emitting step is carried out with the energy passing through the body of the catheter.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the rotating element and energy emitting element being free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 20 cm from the energy emitting element.

9. A catheter having a rotating element and a rotating energy emitter, comprising:

an elongate body having a lumen;

a rotating element coupled to the elongate body, the rotating element being coupled to a first elongate shaft positioned in the lumen of the elongate body, the first shaft also having a lumen therein; and

an energy emitting element coupled to the body, the energy emitting element being mounted to a second elongate shaft which is positioned in the lumen of the first elongate shaft, the energy emitting element being free to of attachments to one another for a length of at least 10 cm from the energy emitting element.

10. The device ofclaim 9, wherein:

the rotating element and the energy emitting element are configured to be coupled to the same rotating driver for rotating both the rotating element and the energy emitting element.

11. The device ofclaim 9, wherein:

the body has an opening therein; and

the cutting element is movable from a stored position to a cutting position, wherein a part of the cutting element extends through the opening when moving from the stored position to the cutting position.

12. The device ofclaim 9, wherein:

the body includes a tissue collection element, the tissue collection element being positioned distal to the cutting element;

the cutting element being configured to cut tissue and direct the tissue distally into the tissue collection element when the cutting element and opening are moved distally through a vascular location.

13. The device ofclaim 9, wherein:

the energy emitting element directs the energy through the body of the catheter, the body of the catheter permitting at least part of the energy to pass therethrough.

14. The method ofclaim 9, wherein:

the energy emitting element directs the energy through the shaft of the rotating element, the shaft of the rotating element permitting at least part of the energy to pass therethrough.

15. The device ofclaim 9, wherein:

the rotating element and the energy emitting element are free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 20 cm from the energy emitting element.

16. The device ofclaim 9, further comprising:

a hub which is coupled to the rotating element and the energy emitting element, the hub being configured to be coupled to a driver which rotates the hub.

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