Ablation devices and methods of use

A catheter assembly for use with an ablation device, comprising:

• a. an elongate tube having an axis of elongation insertable intravascularly into a patient;
• b. an ablating burr for ablating an interior surface of a vascular lumen of said patient, said burr having a distal end;
• and
• c. an ablating shield connected to said tube extending distally from a distal end of said tube along said axis of elongation, said shield shielding a first portion of said ablating burr, and exposing a second side portion and at least a portion of said distal end of said ablating burr.

An ablation device insertable intravascularly into a patient's vascular lumen, the vascular lumen having an interior surface, comprising:

• a. a catheter assembly having an axis of elongation and a distal end, wherein said distal end is insertable intravascularly into the patient's vascular lumen;
• b. an ablating burr located on said distal end of said catheter assembly, said catheter assembly shielding a predetermined portion of said interior surface from said ablating burr in a direction along said axis of elongation;
• and
• c. a guide wire lumen disposed toward one side of said catheter assembly, said guide wire lumen being disposed in a direction along said axis of elongation of said catheter assembly.

A method of ablating an intravascular deposit in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an ablation device comprising a drive assembly releasably joinable to a catheter assembly, said catheter assembly having an ablating burr and an ablating shield;
• b. inserting said catheter assembly intravascularly into said patient;
• c. placing said ablating shield between a portion of an interior surface of said vascular lumen and the ablating burr, thereby shielding said portion from said ablating burr;
• d. joining said drive assembly to said catheter assembly;
• e. energizing said ablating burr to ablate said intravascular deposit;
• f. releasing the drive assembly from the catheter assembly and removing the catheter assembly from the patient;
• g. inserting a second catheter assembly intravascularly into said patient;
• h. joining the drive assembly to the second catheter assembly;
• and
• i. energizing said ablating burr to ablate said intravascular deposit.