Tissue-removing catheter with improved angular tissue-removing positioning within body lumen

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen having a longitudinal axis, the tissue-removing catheter comprising:

• a catheter body configured for insertion in the body lumen, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the catheter body includes a first longitudinal body portion adjacent the distal end, and a second longitudinal body portion proximal of the first longitudinal body portion;
• a tissue-removing element coupled to the catheter body and configured to be positioned in an angular tissue-removing position relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen when the catheter body is inserted in the body lumen, the tissue-removing element being rotatable relative to the second longitudinal body portion about a rotational axis to adjust an angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen when the catheter body is inserted in the body lumen;
• an angular-positioning mechanism operatively connected to the tissue-removing element and configured to rotate the tissue-removing element relative to the second longitudinal body portion about the rotational axis to adjust the angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element, relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen, from a first angular tissue-removing position to a second angular tissue-removing position offset from the first angular tissue-removing position, wherein the angular-positioning mechanism is operatively connected to the first longitudinal body portion for rotating the tissue-removing element relative to the second longitudinal body portion about the rotational axis to adjust the angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element, relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen;
• and
• a tissue-removing driveshaft extending longitudinally within the catheter body and configured for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to the catheter body, the tissue-removing driveshaft operatively connected to the tissue-removing element to impart rotation to the tissue-removing element relative to the catheter body,
• wherein the angular-positioning mechanism comprises a through hole motor defining a through opening, and the tissue-removing driveshaft passes through the through opening of the through hole motor.

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen having a longitudinal axis, the tissue-removing catheter comprising:

• a catheter body configured for insertion in the body lumen, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the catheter body includes a first longitudinal body portion adjacent the distal end, and a second longitudinal body portion proximal of the first longitudinal body portion, wherein the catheter body defines a first longitudinal lumen extending lengthwise of the catheter body, wherein the first longitudinal body portion defines a side opening;
• a tissue-removing element coupled to the catheter body and configured to extend outside the first longitudinal body portion through the side opening, the tissue-removing element configured to be positioned in an angular tissue-removing position relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen when the catheter body is inserted in the body lumen, the tissue-removing element being rotatable relative to the second longitudinal body portion about a rotational axis to adjust an angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen when the catheter body is inserted in the body lumen;
• an angular-positioning mechanism operatively connected to the tissue-removing element and configured to rotate the tissue-removing element relative to the second longitudinal body portion about the rotational axis to adjust the angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element, relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen, from a first angular tissue-removing position to a second angular tissue-removing position offset from the first angular tissue-removing position, wherein the angular-positioning mechanism comprises an electrical motor disposed between the first and second longitudinal body portions;
• a tissue-removing driveshaft extending longitudinally within the first longitudinal lumen of the catheter body and configured for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to the catheter body, the tissue-removing driveshaft operatively connected to the tissue-removing element to impart rotation to the tissue-removing element relative to the catheter body;
• a second longitudinal lumen defined by the catheter body and extending lengthwise of the catheter body, the second longitudinal lumen being separate from the first longitudinal lumen;
• and
• at least one electrical wire electrically coupled to the electrical motor and extending within the second longitudinal lumen toward the proximal end of the catheter body.