Atherectomy device having trapping and excising means for removal of plaque from the aorta and other arteries

A method for removing plaque from the aorta or other arteries of a patient, comprising the steps of:

• providing an arterial catheter system comprising a flexible elongate member having an outer surface, a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, an atherectomy assembly disposed within the distal region of the elongate member, the atherectomy assembly comprising means for plaque removal and trapping means, and a filtration system comprising expansion means disposed about the distal region of the elongate member which is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, and a mesh having a first edge attached circumferentially and continuously to the expansion means and a second edge disposed circumferentially about and in contact with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member;
• introducing the distal region of the arterial catheter into a region of interest within the patient's artery, through an incision in the femoral or brachial artery;
• deploying the filtration system downstream of the plaque within the artery by expanding the expansion means until said first edge of said mesh is positioned at a distance from the outer surface of the flexible elongate member and said first edge achieves contact with the lumen of the artery;
• contacting the atherectomy assembly with the plaque within the artery, wherein the plaque is trapped and held by the atherectomy assembly by use of the trapping means;
• excising the plaque from the artery by operating the means for plaque removal while simultaneously operating the trapping means to secure the plaque;
• contracting the expansion means to the contracted condition;
• and
• removing the arterial catheter system and the plaque entrapped therein from the region of interest and the femoral artery.