Devices, methods and catheters for tissue damage protection in highly calcified vessels during atherectomy procedures

A method comprising:

• receiving, from an audio sensor and a drive motor of a catheter, a set of signals generated when the drive motor is activated;
• extracting, with a processor of the catheter, a set of features from the set of signals;
• estimating a diameter of clearance of a mechanical cutting element of the catheter based on the set of features;
• generating a control signal based on the diameter of clearance;
• and
• controlling the drive motor based on the control signal.

A catheter, comprising:

• a mechanical cutting element coupled to a first end of the catheter;
• a drive motor coupled to a second end of the catheter;
• an audio sensor coupled to the catheter;
• and
• a processor coupled to the catheter programmed to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a set of signals from the audio sensor and the drive motor generated when the drive motor is activated;
• extracting a set of features from the set of signals;
• estimating a diameter of clearance of the mechanical cutting element based on the set of features;
• generating a control signal based on the diameter of clearance;
• and
• controlling the drive motor based on the control signal.