CA2005817A1

CA2005817A1 - Atherectomy system with a biasing sleeve

Info

Publication number: CA2005817A1
Application number: CA002005817A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Samuel Shiber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-19
Filing date: 1989-12-18
Publication date: 1990-06-19
Also published as: JPH0347276A; DE68925803D1; EP0375381B1; DE68925803T2; DE375381T1; US4894051A; EP0375381A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An atherectomy system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible catheter for coring and ingesting obstruction material, insertable into the vessel over the flexible guide-wire, the flexible catheter having a coring means at its distal end and coupling means for connecting it to a power source, at its proximal end, a sleeve in which the flexible catheter is slidably disposed, the sleeve having an elongated tongue extending from its distal end, the tongue defining inside the vessel an eccentrically biased trajectory for the coring means to move along.

Description

~0~ ~8~L7 BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION

. With a~e a largP percentage of the population develops atherosclsrotic a-terial obstruction~ resultlng ln a dimini~hed blood circul~tlon, The ~istur~ance to blood flow that the~e obstructions cau~e may induce blood clot3 which further diminish or block the blood flow. When this process occurs in t~e corQnsry arteries it i8 referred to a8 n heart sttsck. Presently such obstruc~ions are circumvented by sur~ically ~raftin~ a byp3ss or they are treated by a estheter equipped with a balloon which ~8 inserted through the arterial sy~tem, over ~ flexible guiae-wire, into the obstruction and then inflsted to expand the obstruction's lumen (8ngiopla9tg~. Some of the problems wlth angiopl~sty ~re that it ln~ures the arterisl wall, lt creates a rough lumen and in substantial number of the cases it i8 ineffectiYeo Further, angiopla3tg doe~ not remoYe the obstruction material o~t of the a~ ial system, therefore in a case of a heart attack, immedi~te angioplasty carries the risk of dislodging the blood clot and sllowing it to moYe down stream creating additional blockages.
An ob~ective of the present invent~on 1~ to provide an atherectomy catheter which is insertable and advancable in an artery over a flexible guide-wire. The flexible catheter is equipped with a coring means a~ its distal end ~o core and extract oh~truction materisl ~nd create a ~mooth lum~n without cracking the arterial wall. The catheter i8 slidable in ~
eccentricslly biasing sleeve that defines the catheter's trajector~ in the 0 vessel in order to selectively aim the coring means into the obstructlon.
This aIlows the treatment of eccentric lesions and the ~tilizlng o the system in larger arteries without increasin~ the flexible catbeter1s diameter and the associated puncture wound at the point of insertion of the sy~tem into the vessel.
The~e and other objectives of the inYention ~ill become appsrent from the following discussion and the accompanying drawingsO

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF I~IE FIGURES

FIGURE 1 ~chematically show~ a general view of an atherecto~y ~yatem inserted at the groin area, through a patient's ar~erisl systemt lnto his 2Q coronary artery.
FIGURE 2 shows a cros~ sectioned view of the atherectom~ aystem. The middle portion of the ~ystem is represented with a phantom line, due to ~pace li~itstions on the drawing shee~.
FIGURE 3 shows a bottom view of a distal portion of a first embodiment of the sy~tem.
FIGUR~ 4 ~how~ a side view of a distal portion of the first embodiment, in an artery, prior to pre~surizing an infl~table chamber through nn inflatable tube and prior to expanding a barr~er means at the distal end of the flexible guide-wire.
FIGURE 5 ~hows 8 cro~s sectional view along line 5-5 marked on FIGUR~ 4 of the first embodiment, in an artery, prior to pre~suri~ing Qn inflatable ~ r~
~ber.
FIGURE 5' showA a cross sectional ~lew along line 5-5 ~arked on FIGUR~ 4 of the tongue of the first embodiment9 on an enlarged scale~ howing the reinforcing rib.
FIGURE 6 ~hows 8 side view of a dist~l portion of the first embodiment, in an artery, with the inflatable chamber and the inflatable tube pressurized and with the distsl barrier m~ans ~xpsnded.
FIGURE 7 shows a cross sectional ~iew along line 7-7 marked on FIGUR~ 6 of the first embodiment, ln an artery, with the inflatable c~amber pressurized !o . and with the dlstal b~rrier means expanded.
FIGURE 8 showq a bottom vlew of a distal portion of ~ biasing slee~e of a second embodiment of the system.
FIGURE 9 showq a cros3 sectional vlew along line 9-9 marked on FIGURE 8, of the biasing sleeve with an inflation passage formed in it~ wall.
FIGUR~ 10 shows a side Yiew of a distal portion of a biasing sleeve of the second embodiment of the system.
FIGURE 11 shows a cross sectional view along line 11-11 marked on FIGUR~ -10, of the gate.
FIGURE 12 shows a cro3q sectional view along lir.e 12-12 msrked on FIGUR~
~o _ 10, of the tongueO
FIGURE 13 ~hows a side view of a distal portion of the tongue of the second embodiment of the system wlth a preqsuri~ed inflatable chamber and A

closed Bate.
FIGURE 14 ~hows a front view of a distal end of the tongue with a pressurized inflatable chamber and 8 closed gate.
FIGURE 15 shows a cross section~l Yiew along llne 15-15 marked on FIGURE
13, of the tongue of the second embodiment of the system with a pressurized m flatable chamber biasing the tongue, in an arter~.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

- 0 FIGURE 1 ~chematically shows a 8enerai view o an atherectom~ ~ystem ~ith a biasing sleeve, 10, introduced percutaneously (through the skin) into a i~)Or~l 7 p, 'ent's femornl Mrtery 11 at the groin area. The ~ystem'~ diatal end i9 irserted through the arterial system to reach a work site in ~ coronary artery 12 and its proximal end remains outside the patient'~ body.
As shown in FIGUBE 2 the atherectomy ~ystem comprises several elongsted parts in a nested relationship, snd their ends shall be referred to Ag "distal" meaning the end which goes into the vessel and "proximal" meaning the other end. In view of the above, "distal direction" or "dlstally" shall indicate a general direction from the proximal end to the distal end, and "proximal direction" or "proximsllg" shsll refer to an opposite direction.
1~ As further shown in FIGURE 2, the distal portion of the s~tem lO i~
placed in the diseased coronary artery 12 (~ame numbers are used to ~ndicate similsr ~tems throughout the FIGURES) contalning an eccentric atherosc~erotic obstruction 13. The system's mid portion i9 represented b~ a phantom line 16 because of space limi~stion of the drawing sheet.
The system comprises:
flexible guide-wire 17 insertable through the human vsscular system.
A flexible rotary-cstheter 15, rotatable and slidable over the guide-wire, having a wall 20 defining a longitudinal channel 21. Coring meAn~ in the form of a tubular blade 2~ i3 mounted st the diatal end of the flexible 2~ rotar~-catheter. The tubular-blade defines a through-hole forming wlth the channel 21 a continuous psssage for accepting the obstruction materl~l ingested into the through-hole. Alternate auitable coring mesns which utilize radiation, heat or teeth sre discussed in m~ copending patent sppllcations incorporated above.
Frictional losses which develop between the flexible rotar~-catheter and a biaqing sleeve 26 ~train the flex~ble rotarr-catheter and th~ motor. These frictional losses are more pronounced wlth an obese patient where the system is introduced into the femoral artery at the groin and has to assume a ~harp be~d at the point of entry due to patient's protruding abdomen. To reduce ~3~ these frictionsl losse~ the diameter of the proxi~al portion of the flexible rotary-cathe~er i8 decreased at a point marked 15' on FIGUR~ 2. Such a diametricsl decrease does not interfere with the ingestion of o~struction maLerial as long as ~ safflcient d~stal portlon of a full diameter flexible '7 rotary-cQtheter i~ left to ~ccept ehO ~ateri~l, For ex~mpla, ~ ~loxlble roLary-catheter fo~ removing an obstruction from peripheral arteries hsving a total length of 50 centlmeter~ (cm) can be msnufactured w1th a 35 cm proximal portion of 2 millimeter~ (mm) diameter and a 15 cm diRtal portion of 3 mm diameter. However, if the obstruction is long the location of the diametrical transition point 15' can be moved proximally to lncresse the catheter's material ingestion capacity.
A motor 24 has 8 hollow shaft 25 with a tapered di~tal end 30' which engages a coupling mean~ in the form of a ~atching tapered aeat 30 formed at the proximal end of the flexible rotary-catheter~
The biasing sleeve 26 has a tongue with biasing means, which define~
inside the ves3el an eccentric trsJector~ ~or he corlng mesns ~o ~ov~ alo~g.
The sleeve can also serve as an introducer of the system into the artery, or it can be introduced through a separate introducer sheath. Further, the _ __ _ _ sleeve can be formed to a desired shape to ~erre as a guidlng-catheter to assist in delivering the flexible rotary-catheter to the work site.
Aàditionally, the bia~ing sleeYe has a port 27 through which lt ~ccept~
contrast or irrigating/lubricating fluids and deliver~ them through its distal end to the work ~ite. A seal 31 pre~ents the fluld from escap~ng nut through 20~ the sleeve~ proximal end.
A rotary joint 28 has a port 29 which is connected through the hollow shaft 25 to the continuous pa~age and can be used for introducing a negative pressure in the continuou~ paqsage to a~siat ~n aucking and traw~Dg the cored obstruction material into it. The ~uction snd 0 m chanical action reoulting from the relatlve motion between the rotating inner wall of the contlnuous passage and the stationary flexible guide-wire effectivel~ inge3ts the cored material into the continuous pa~age for subsequent removal out of the patient's body. In an early stage of the procedure, prior to inBesting obstruction material, the fluid route connecting the port 29 and the distal 3~ . end of the flexible rotary-catheter can be used as an rlternative route for delivering fluids to the work ~ite.
The 1exible guide-wire slidabley pa~Yeq through a cloqe fitting hole formed at the end of the rotary ~oint.

Pa8e 5 81 ~

FIGURES 3 to 7 ~how the distal end of an atherectomy ~gstem wlth a flrst e~bodiment of a biasing ~leeve for remoYing an obstruction from within the patien~'s ~essel, artery 12, comprislng:
the flexible guide-wire 17', the flexible rotary-catheter 15 with coring meana in the form of the tubular-blade 22 at its distal end, for coring and ingesting ob~truction ~aterial, insertable into the vessel o~er the flexible guide-wire.
A bis~in8 sleeYe 26 in which the flexible rotar~-ca,heter is rotatably and slidably disposed and sn elo~g~ed to~ ~ hich extend~ from the distal lo end of the biaslng sleeve snd deines, inside the ~es9el, an eccentrlc trajectory for the flexible rotary-catheter and the cor~ng means to move and core alo~8-In the first embodiment the tongue has cross section in the shape of ~nincomplete circle, ~hown in FIGURES 5, 5' and 7, which positively contains the fl ~ urrounding sightlg more than half of ito pe-iphery. The tongue's cross section i9 stabilized by reinfor~ing mesn~ in the form of semicircular rib3 iike element~ 46 (note FIGUR~ 5'). me elements 46 are tled together by 8 spine like element 47 which contributes snbstantially to the strength and the stiffness of the tongue in resisting twisting under torque, while allowing it to bend. Therefore, elements 46 and 47, which can be made from flat stainless steel sheet materisl, ~tabili~e the cross section of the tongue to maintain the proper relationship between the ~ongue cross section and the tubular-blade but allow the tongue to bend and conform to the arterial curvature. The~ also enable the user to rotate the tongue in the artery to position and reposition its top, open side toward the obstruction which is to be removed.
The tongue has a ~electi~ely actuable blasing means in the orm of an inflatable chamber 42 for eccentrically biasing it in the vessel in order to define, inside the vessel, the eccentricall~ biased tra~ectory for the coring 3~ means and the flexible rotary-catheter to mo~e snd core along. The tongue enables the user to direct the corlng means slong eccentric lesions a~d to ut~lize the syste~ for ze-canalizing ~arger arteries. Re-canalizing larger arteries ~8 done by coring whlle bia9inB the coring mean~ ~lth the tongue Pa~e 6 ~5~ 7 t rds one ~ide of the nrtery, then backing the coring mean~, rotating the sleeve and the tongue a part of a turn in the artery~ rebissing the tongue by inflating the chamber 42 and maXing another psa~ repeating ~he procedure And making additional passes aq needed. Thu~, a large diameter arter~ csn be debulked and re-canalizing through a s~aller puncture wound ln the vessel'~
wall.
An inflatable tube 44, for inflat~ng the cha~ber 42, i~ formed integral with the chamber. When the chamber iB inflated the tube i8 al~o sli~htlg inflated, ag shown ln FIGUP~ 6, however, prior to inflation the tube remain3 flat (negative pressure can be spplied to the tube to further reducing its dimensions) as ~hown in ~IGURE 4, ~inimizlng its contribution to ~h~ overall thickneqs of the biasing 31eeve structurP and to the size of puncture wound that will be needed to introduce th& ~tructure into the patient's bod~.
The flexible guide-wire 17' has a distal barrier means ln the form of th` n Jacket oYer a core wire 67. The ~acket and core wire are bonded at thelr distal tip, and by pulling the core wire relati~e to the Jacket at the proximal tip, arm~ 68 which sre formed by muleiple slits in the aleeYe, are extended radially. Barrier ~eans as well as sdditional ~uitable flexible gu de-wire desi8ns are discus~ed in my copending patent application~
incorporated above.
In the ~econd embodiment of the biasing sleeve 26', shown in FIGURES 8 to 15, the tongue 35' has a "Ul' ~haped crosq section which acts to deflne inside the vessel an eccentrically biased tra~ectory for the coring means to mo~e along while po~itivelg holding the srterial wall out of this tra~ectory, thereby minimizing the probsbility of cutting into the arterial wall tnote FIGURE 15).
The tongue of the second embodiment 35' has a selecti~ely ~ariable cro~s section to facllitate its in3ertlon in a folded posltion as ~hown in FIGUR~
12 to minimize the size of the puncture wound that i~ required to introduce 3~ the system into the ~es~el. At the obstructlon ~i~e the tongue unfolds ln response to inflation of a inflatable chamber 63 which 1~ externally sttached to a bottom side of the tongue 35', as shown in FIGURE 15. The i~flatable cha~ber 63 al90 ser~e to bia~ the U ~haped tongue towards the arterial wall~

Pege 7 ~ 3~
however, if the tongue iB biased and contacts the wall before belng unfolded, t~ ontact with the wall may interfere with the unfolding process.
Optionally, a smaller inflatable chamber 43 can be nested, 88 shown in FIGUBE
15 in a phantom ~ine, in the inflatable cha~ber 63, to unfold the tongue when it iS inflated. Due to its smaller size chamber 43 i8 le~s likely ~o energize the tongue sBain3t the wall. When the unfolding process i8 completed the ir.flatable chamber 63 can be lnflated to accomplish the bia~in8 of the tongue.
A pa~sage 71 which i8 for~Ded in ~ ~sll of the sleeve 26', chown in FIGURES 8 and 9, has a distal end communicating with the chamber ~3 for delivering inflating fluid thereto.
The tongue 35' has a 8ate 61 at it3 distal end, to minimize escapement of obstruction material distally~ The 8ate 19 ~electirel~ acu~able b~ a distal narrowed end 64 of the inflatable chamber 63 which ~cts as an actuatos closing the gate to the po~ition shown in FIGU~E 13, when inflated. Alternatlvely, mechanicsl means in the form of a strip 62 made, prefersbly from a ~tainless steel, Rhown in a phantom line on FIGURE 13, can be used to close the gate 61.

OPERATION

A process for removing an obstruction from a ~e~Qel with an atherecto~y syste~, comprlse~ the following stepa:
2~ ~ Inserting into sn obstruction in a ve sel a flexible guide-wire (the technique for inserting guide wire~ through the ra3cular 3ystem i8 well established).
Adrancing over the flexible guide-wire a flexible catheter havlng a coring mean3 at its distal end, to the vicinity of the obstruction.
Coring an initial lumen in the obstruction and ingesting the cored ma~erial in the catheter. Retracting the coring mean~ from the lnltial lumen and lnserting a b~asin8 tongue into it.
Ad~ancing the flexlble ~atheter and coring the obstruction ~long Hn eccentricslly biased tra~ectory defined by the tongue. Ihe amount o biasing 3C can be regulated by the inflation pre~sure of a chamber attached to the bottom of the tongue.

Psge 8 In ~ case where the di~eased lumen i8 large enough to accept the tongue the step of corlng an initial lumen can to be ~kipped, Ne~ative pres~ure csn be used to assist the mechanlcal action in enabling the cored ob~truct~on material into the continuou~ passage.
It should be noted that the atherectom~ system can be manufactured in different diameters and lengths depending on the size ~nd ~ite of ar~ery that it is intended for and on whether the system 1~ to be used percutaneously (that i~ through the skin) or intra~operati~ely (that i8 when the vessel i~
surgically exposed for inserting the system into the Yes~el).
It can alqo be noted from the present applicstion snd the incorpora~ed applications that components of the atherectomy sy~tem can be made in ~everal ways: Ihe flexible catheter can be made from plaRtic or metal and either version can be equipped with an internal helical atep. The coring means can be a tubular-blade, ~ heated tubular blade or a radiatlon emitting means auch as an optical fiber located at a wall of the flexible catheter carrying la~er energy, or other means which cor~ ~nd ingest an ob~truction placed ~n front of it. By combinin~ a bia~in~ aleeve with certain features, a flexible cstheter with certain festureq and 8 flexible guide-wire with certsin features a Yariety of species csn be made to match the system's characteri~tlcs with the ~0 specific disease c~aracteristic~ of the individual patient, which 18 helpful, since the clinical characteristics of arterial atherosclerotic obstructions vary in geometry, hardness, and acceY~lbilit~ from one patient to another.
T;.erefore, lt ~hould be understood that variou~ modifications snd suDstitutlons may be made without departing from the ~pirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

P~ge 9

Claims

1. An atherectomy system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising in combination:
a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible catheter for coring and insertable obstruction material, insertable into the vessel over said flexible guide-wire, said flexible catheter having a coring means at its distal end and coupling means for connecting it to a power source, at its proximal end, a sleeve in which said flexible catheter is slidably disposed, said sleeve having an elongated tongue extending from its distal end, said tongue defining inside said vessel an eccentrically biased trajectory for said coring means to move along.

2. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue has a circular cross section which positively contain said flexible catheter.

3. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue has a U shaped cross section.

4. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue having a selectively variable cross section to facilitate insertion thereof into the vessel,

5. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue's cross section being selectively variable and adapted to unfold in response to inflation of a chamber means which are externally attached to a bottom side of said tongue.

6. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue's cross section is stabilized by reinforcing means.

7. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue having a selectively actuable biasing means for eccentrically biasing said tongue in the vessel.

8. An atherectomy system as in claim 7, said biasing means comprise an inflatable chamber attached to bottom side of said tongue.

9. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said tongue has a gate at its distal end.

10. An atherectomy system as in claim 9, said gate is selectively acutable by mechanical means.

11. An atherectomy system as in claim 9, said gate is selectively acutable by inflatable chamber means.

12. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, wherein suction is applied at said proximal end of said continuous passage to proximally pull the cored obstruction material in said continuous passage.

13. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said coring means being a rotating tubular-blade.

14. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said flexible catheter being a flexible rotary-catheter.

15. An atherectomy system 89 in claim 14, said flexible rotary-catheter having a decreased diameter at its proximal section to reduce frictional losses between said flexible rotary-catheter and said sleeve at the area of entering the patient's body.

16. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, said coring means being a radiation emitting device.

17. An atherectomy system s in claim l, said flexible guide-wire having radially extending distal barrier means to counter distal movement of obstruction material.

18. An atherectomy system as in claim 17, wherein said distal barrier means can elastically contract to pass through a narrowed lumen.

19. An atherectomy system as in claim 17, wherein said distal barrier means are selectively expandable.

20. An atherectomy system as in claim 1, wherein means for introducing fluids into the vessel are connected to said sleeve.

21. A process for removing an obstruction from a vessel with an atherectomy system comprising the following steps:
inserting into a vessel, into an obstruction, a flexible guide-wire, advancing over the flexible guide-wire a flexible catheter equipped with coring means at its distal end and a sleeve having a tongue extending from its distal end, placing said tongue along the obstruction, advancing the coring means to the obstruction, advancing the flexible catheter and coring along an eccentrically biased trajectory defined by the tongue while coring and ingesting into the flexible catheter the obstruction material, removing the flexible catheter and ingested obstruction material out of the vessel.

22. A process for removing an obstruction from a vessel with an atherectomy system, comprising the following steps:
inserting into a vessel, into an obstruction, a flexible guide-wire advancing over the flexible guide-wire a coring means and coring an initial lumen in the obstruction, retracting the coring means from said initial lumen, inserting a tongue into said initial lumen, advancing the flexible catheter and coring along an eccentrically biased trajectory defined by the tongue while coring and ingesting into the flexible catheter the obstruction material, to enlarge the initial lumen.

23. A process as in claim 21, wherein suction is used to enable the cored obstruction material into the continuous passage.

24. A process as in claim 22, wherein suction is used to enable the cored obstruction material into the continuous passage.

25. An atherectomy system for coring, ingesting and removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel, comprising in combination:
a flexible guide-wire insertable into the vessel, a flexible rotary catheter, rotatably disposed and insertable into the vessel over said flexible guide-wire, having at its distal end a rotary coring means for making a circular cut in an obstruction located in front of it, and coupling means at its proximal end, a continuous passage, for ingesting the cored obstruction material, defined between said flexible rotary catheter and said flexible guide-wire, where the relative motion between said flexible rotary catheter and said flexible guide-wire assists in moving said ingested obstruction material proximally in said continuous passage, and, a sleeve in which said flexible catheter is slidably disposed, said sleeve having an elongated tongue extending from its distal end, said tongue defining inside said vessel an eccentrically biased trajectory for said coring means to move along.

26. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue has a circular cross section which positively contains said flexible catheter.

27. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue has a U shaped cross section.

28. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue having a selectively variable cross section to facilitate insertion thereof into the vessel.

29. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue's cross section being selectively variable and adapted to unfold in response in inflation of a chamber means which is attached externally to a bottom side of said tongue.

30. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue's cross section is stabilized by reinforcing means.

31. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue having a selectively actuable biasing means for eccentrically biasing said tongue in the vessel.

32. An atherectomy system as in claim 31, said biasing means comprise an inflatable chamber attached to bottom side of said tongue.

33. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said tongue has gate at its distal end.

34. An atherectomy system as in claim 33, said gate is selectively acutable by mechanical means.

35. An atherectomy system as in claim 33, said gate is selectively acutable by inflatable chamber means.

36. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, wherein suction is applied at said proximal end of said continuous passage to pull the cored obstruction material proximally in said continuous passage.

37. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said coring means being a rotating tubular-blade.

38. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said flexible catheter being a flexible rotary-catheter.

39. An atherectomy system as in claim 38, said flexible rotary-catheter having a decreased diameter at its proximal section to reduce frictional losses between said flexible rotary-catheter and said sleeve at the area of entering the patient's body.

40. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said coring means being a radiation emitting device.

41. An atherectomy system as in claim 25, said flexible guide-wire having radially extending distal barrier means to counter distal movement of obstruction material.

42. An atherectomy system as in claim 41, wherein said distal barrier means can elastically contract to pass through a narrowed lumen.

43. An atherectomy system as in claim 14, wherein said distal barrier means are selectively expandable.

44. An atherectomy system is in claim 25, wherein means for introducing fluids into the vessel are connected to said sleeve.

45. A process for removing an obstruction from a vessel with an atherectomy system, comprising the following steps:
inserting into a vessel, into an obstruction, a flexible guide-wire, advancing over the flexible guide-wire a flexible catheter equipped with coring means at its distal end and a sleeve having a tongue extending from its distal end.

placing said tongue along the obstruction, advancing the coring means to the obstruction, advancing the flexible catheter and coring along an eccentrically biased trajectory defined by the tongue while coring and ingesting into the flexible catheter the obstruction material, removing the flexible catheter and ingested obstruction material out of the vessel.

46. A process for removing an obstruction from a vessel with an atherectomy system, comprising the following steps:
inserting into a vesel, into an obstruction, a flexible guide-wire, advancing over the flexible guide-wire a coring means and coring an initial lumen in the obstruction, retracting the coring means from said initial lumen, inserting a tongue into said initial lumen, advancing the flexible catheter and coring along an eccentrically biased trajectory defined by the tongue while coring and ingesting into the flexible catheter the obstruction material, to enlarge the initial lumen.

47. A process as in claim 45, wherein suction is used to enable the cored obstruction material into the continuous passage.

48. A process as in claim 46, wherein suction is used to enable the cored obstruction material into the continuous passage.