Catheter based surgical methods and apparatus therefor

A method of dilating a portion of lumen in a living body utilizing an elongated, small diameter, flexible catheter having a longitudinal axis and a distal end at which a working head is located, said working head being arranged for high speed movement with respect to said axis by associated drive means, said lumen portion including undesirable material located therein which may be loosened by the dilation action of said working head, said drive means being arranged to freely effect the movement of said working head even if said catheter is bent through an arc up to a minimum radius of curvature and without resulting in excessive vibration which could interfere with the lumen-dilating action, said method comprising inserting said catheter into said lumen from a remote location, causing said drive means to rotate said working head about said axis at a high rate of speed and advancing said catheter into said lumen along said axis to said portion of said lumen as said working head is moving whereupon the mechanical action of said working head causes said portion of said lumen to be enlarged and wherein said working head causes any loosened materials to be of such sufficiently small size that they are permitted to pass distally of said lumen portion without causing significant deleterious effect to bodily tissue.