Tissue-removing catheter with guidewire isolation liner

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen, the tissue-removing catheter comprising:

• an elongate body having an axis and proximal and distal end portions spaced apart from one another along the axis, the elongate body being sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen;
• a tissue-removing element mounted on the distal end portion of the elongate body, the tissue-removing element being configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen;
• and
• an inner liner received within the elongate body, the inner liner defining a guidewire lumen, the inner liner isolating an interior of the guidewire lumen from the elongate body and tissue-removing element such that rotational forces are not transferred from the elongate body and tissue-removing element to the interior of the guidewire lumen when the elongate body and tissue-removing element are rotated during removal of tissue from the body lumen, wherein the inner liner is free of radial openings in the inner liner.

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

• advancing a tissue-removing catheter over a guidewire in the body lumen to position a distal end of the catheter adjacent the tissue and a proximal end portion of the catheter outside of the body lumen, the catheter comprising an elongate body and a tissue removing element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, and an inner liner disposed within the elongate body, the inner liner defining a guidewire lumen in which the guidewire is disposed during the advancement of the catheter;
• actuating a motor to rotate the elongate body and tissue-removing element of the catheter to remove the tissue;
• and
• isolating the guidewire from the elongate body and tissue-removing element with the inner liner so that rotational forces are not transferred from the rotating elongate body and tissue-removing element to the guidewire during removal of tissue from the body lumen, wherein the inner liner is free of radial openings in the inner liner.