Methods and devices for cutting tissue

A method of removing material from a blood vessel, comprising:

• providing a catheter comprising:
• a body having opposite proximal and distal ends;
• a rotatable shaft coupled to the body;
• a cutting element adjacent the distal end of the body and coupled to the rotatable shaft, such that the rotatable shaft is able to rotate the cutting element through a complete rotation about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element, the cutting element having opposite distal and proximal ends, a concave surface and a cutting edge, the concave surface defining a concave cavity, the cutting edge extending circumferentially at the distal end of the cutting element;
• and
• a raised element extending distally from the concave surface of the cutting element, the raised element having a first wall extending generally radially, and a distal wall including distal surface which intersects the first wall to form a raised edge of the raised element, wherein an entirety of the distal surface of the raised element is recessed proximally from the cutting edge;
• and
• moving the catheter in a distal direction within a blood vessel, as the rotatable shaft is rotating the cutting element, to cut tissue.