Tissue-removing catheter including operational control mechanism

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen during a cutting operation thereof, the tissue-removing catheter comprising:

• an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen, the catheter body having opposite distal and proximal portions, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal and proximal portions;
• a tissue-removing element located generally at the distal portion of the catheter body for rotation generally about the longitudinal axis of the catheter body;
• a deployment mechanism operably connected to the tissue-removing element, the deployment mechanism configured to move the tissue-removing element between a tissue-removing position, in which the tissue-removing element is exposed through the distal portion of the catheter body and capable of performing the cutting operation, and a neutral position, in which the tissue-removing element is positioned inside the distal portion of the catheter body;
• an electric motor operably connected to the tissue-removing element for imparting rotation of the tissue-removing element about a rotational axis during the cutting operation of the catheter;
• a locking device selectively configurable between a locked configuration, in which the locking device inhibits movement of the tissue-removing element from its tissue-removing position to its neutral position, and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking device allows movement of the tissue-removing element from its tissue-removing position to its neutral position;
• a sensor configured to detect a parameter of the electric motor during the cutting operation of the catheter when the tissue-removing element is in its tissue-removing position;
• a locking control circuit in electrical communication with the sensor and the locking device, wherein during an operational control function, the locking control circuit is configured to:
• receive a signal from the sensor based at least in part on the parameter of the electric motor detected during the cutting operation of the catheter,
• determine whether the received signal is indicative of the tissue-removing element engaging a non-tissue obstruction, and
• configure the locking device in its locked configuration to inhibit movement of the tissue-removing element from its tissue-removing position to its neutral position if the received signal is indicative of the tissue-removing element engaging a non-tissue obstruction.