Percutaneous endarterectomy

A method for separating plaque from a blood vessel, the blood vessel having an inner wall, said plaque having a body portion, said plaque being disposed along at least part of said vessel inner wall, the method comprising:

• providing an outer everting membrane tube having an outer tube distally leading edge;
• providing an inner everting membrane tube having an outer tube distally leading edge, wherein said inner tube is disposed within said outer tube;
• intravascularly inserting said inner and outer everting membrane tubes to near said plaque;
• and
• distally advancing said inner and outer everting membrane tubes between said plaque body and said vessel inner wall by everting said inner and outer membrane tubes, such that said plaque is separated from said vessel inner wall.

A method for separating plaque from a blood vessel inner wall, said plaque having a body portion, said plaque being disposed along at least part of said vessel inner wall, the method comprising:

• providing a membrane including an inner fold and an outer fold;
• wherein said inner fold includes an inner fold inner portion, an inner fold outer portion and an inner fold distally leading edge disposed between said inner fold inner and outer portions;
• wherein said outer fold includes an outer fold inner portion, an outer fold outer portion and an outer fold distally leading edge disposed between said outer fold inner and outer portions;
• distally advancing said inner fold outer portion such that said inner fold leading edge is made to distally advance in between said plaque and said vessel wall;
• and
• distally advancing said outer fold inner portion such that said outer fold leading edge is made to distally advance in between said plaque and said vessel wall.

An intravascular device for separating plaque from a vessel inner wall, the device comprising:

• a tubular member having a distal region and an inflation lumen;
• a flexible membrane including an inner fold and an outer fold, each fold having an interior and a distally leading edge;
• said membrane inner fold having a proximal, distally advancing portion;
• said membrane outer fold having a proximal, distally advancing portion, wherein said membrane inner and outer proximal distally advancing portions are coupled together;
• and
• said inner fold and outer fold interiors being in fluid communication with said tube inflation lumen, such that supplying fluid under pressure to said inflation lumen causes said inner and outer fold distally leading edges to travel distally.