Devices for clearing blockages in artificial and natural lumens

A device for clearing a lumen having an occlusion therein, said device comprising:

• a housing containing at least one motor configured to selectively generate repetitive motion including at least one of:
• (i) reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction and (ii) rotational motion about an axis;
• a clearing stem dimensioned to be slidably received within said lumen having the occlusion, said clearing stem comprising:
• (a) a sheath having a distal end sized for insertion in said lumen having the occlusion, such that the occlusion is exterior to said sheath, said distal end of said sheath having at least one sheath opening positionable adjacent to the occlusion, said distal end of said sheath having a caged configuration having a plurality of support arms joining at a bearing tip at a terminal end of said sheath, wherein pairs of said support arms define a sheath opening therebetween, said sheath further having a proximal end connected to said housing, said proximal end terminating exterior to said lumen having the occlusion when inserted therein, and a sheath lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said sheath;
• and
• (b) a wire slidably received within said sheath lumen, said wire having a distal end, a wire tip at said distal end configured to be positioned within said distal end of said sheath at said sheath opening, and a proximal end affixed in mechanical communication to said at least one motor transmitting said repetitive motion to said wire tip;
• wherein said repetitive motion of said wire tip relative to said sheath opening collectively creating a shearing force at an interface between said wire tip and said sheath opening to break up the occlusion in said lumen adjacent to said sheath opening.