System and method for traversing an arterial occlusion

A system for traversing an arterial occlusion in an artery comprising:

• a housing sized to fit in a palm of a user;
• a rotary actuator comprising:
• a manipulation member, moveably coupled to the housing, and
• an elongate drive tube rotationally disposed within the housing and configured to be rotated by thumb-activated movement of the manipulation member with respect to the housing, the drive tube having a first end and second end and including a passage extending axially from the first end to the second end;
• a cylindrical member, configured to be rotationally coupled to the drive tube, such that a distal tip of the cylindrical member may be delivered to a location adjacent an arterial occlusion when the cylindrical member is coupled to the drive tube;
• and
• wherein the housing is configured to be grasped by a hand of the user such that the manipulation member may be moved with the thumb of the hand of the user to rotate the drive tube, thereby causing rotation and an accompanying variable axial impact of the distal tip of the cylindrical member against the arterial occlusion when the distal tip is adjacent the arterial occlusion.