Tissue-removing catheter including force-transmitting member for actuating a cutter housing

A method of removing tissue from a body lumen, the method comprising:

• inserting a tissue-removing catheter into the body lumen, the tissue-removing catheter comprising
• an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen, the catheter body having opposite distal and proximal ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal and proximal ends,
• a cutter located generally at the distal end of the catheter body adapted to remove tissue from the body lumen, the cutter having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal end portions,
• a cutter housing adjacent the distal end of the catheter body, the cutter housing including a distal longitudinal portion located distal of the cutter, wherein the distal longitudinal portion is pivotable generally about a hinge axis, relative to the cutter between a closed position, in which the cutter is covered by the cutter housing, and an open position, in which at least a portion of the cutter is exposed,
• a force-transmitting member extending along the catheter body and being longitudinally movable relative to the catheter body, wherein a distal end portion of the force-transmitting member is operatively connected to the distal longitudinal portion of the cutter housing such that distal movement of the force-transmitting member relative to the catheter body and the cutter imparts pivoting of the distal longitudinal portion of the cutter housing to its open position to expose the cutter, and
• a track located adjacent the distal end of the catheter body, the track defining a slot having an offset portion extending at an offset angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body, wherein the cutter housing is configured to track along the offset portion of the slot when the force-transmitting member is moved distally relative to the catheter body;
• wherein the slot has a shape and the shape of the slot is the same when the cutter housing is in the open position and the closed position;
• moving, after said inserting a tissue-removing catheter into the body lumen, the force-transmitting member distally relative to the catheter body and the cutter to impart pivoting of the distal longitudinal portion of the cutter housing to its open position to expose the cutter;
• and
• removing, after said moving the force-transmitting member, tissue from the body lumen using the cutter.