Methods and devices for rotating an active element and an energy emitter on a catheter

Abstract

A tissue cutting device includes a sizing element which detects the diameter of the vessel in which the cutting device is positioned. The sizing element is coupled to the cutting element so that the amount of the cutting element that is exposed varies in response to movement of the sizing element.

1 . A method of rotating an element and an energy emitting element on a catheter, comprising the steps of:
 providing a catheter having an elongate body, a rotating element and an energy emitting element, the rotating element including a first elongate shaft having a lumen therein, the energy emitting element being mounted to a second elongate shaft which is positioned in the lumen of the first elongate shaft, the rotating element and energy emitting element being free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 10 cm from the energy emitting element;   advancing the catheter through a blood vessel to a vascular location;   rotating the rotating element and the energy emitting element;   emitting energy from the energy emitting element during the rotating step; and   receiving energy at the catheter which was emitted by the energy emitting element and reflected back from the tissue to the catheter.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rotating step is carried out with the rotating element and the energy emitting element both coupled to a single rotating driver.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the providing step is carried out with the rotating element being a tissue cutting element.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of:
 cutting tissue with the tissue cutting element;   the providing step is carried out with the tissue cutting element being movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the tissue cutting device having an opening, wherein a part of the tissue cutting element extends through the opening when moving from the stored position to the cutting position.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the cutting step is carried out by advancing the cutting element and the opening in a distal direction, wherein tissue cut by the cutting element is directed distally by the cutting element into a tissue collection element positioned distal to the cutting element.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the providing step is carried out with the catheter having a tissue collection element, the tissue collection element being positioned distal to the cutting element.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the emitting step is carried out with the energy passing through the body of the catheter.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the providing step is carried out with the rotating element and energy emitting element being free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 20 cm from the energy emitting element.   
   
   
       9 . A catheter having a rotating element and a rotating energy emitter, comprising:
 an elongate body having a lumen;   a rotating element coupled to the elongate body, the rotating element being coupled to a first elongate shaft positioned in the lumen of the elongate body, the first shaft also having a lumen therein; and   an energy emitting element coupled to the body, the energy emitting element being mounted to a second elongate shaft which is positioned in the lumen of the first elongate shaft, the energy emitting element being free to of attachments to one another for a length of at least 10 cm from the energy emitting element.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the rotating element and the energy emitting element are configured to be coupled to the same rotating driver for rotating both the rotating element and the energy emitting element.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the body has an opening therein; and   the cutting element is movable from a stored position to a cutting position, wherein a part of the cutting element extends through the opening when moving from the stored position to the cutting position.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the body includes a tissue collection element, the tissue collection element being positioned distal to the cutting element;   the cutting element being configured to cut tissue and direct the tissue distally into the tissue collection element when the cutting element and opening are moved distally through a vascular location.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the energy emitting element directs the energy through the body of the catheter, the body of the catheter permitting at least part of the energy to pass therethrough.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the energy emitting element directs the energy through the shaft of the rotating element, the shaft of the rotating element permitting at least part of the energy to pass therethrough.   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the rotating element and the energy emitting element are free of attachments to one another for a length of at least 20 cm from the energy emitting element.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a hub which is coupled to the rotating element and the energy emitting element, the hub being configured to be coupled to a driver which rotates the hub.