System and method for traversing an arterial occlusion

Abstract

A system for traversing an arterial occlusion in an artery includes a housing sized to fit in a palm of a user, an elongate drive tube configured to be rotated by the housing, the drive tube including an axially extending passage, 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 the arterial occlusion when the cylindrical member is coupled to the drive tube, and wherein grasping and activating the housing such that the drive tube is rotated, thereby causes the distal tip of the cylindrical member to be rotated, the rotation of the distal tip including at least a component of linear oscillation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for manipulating a surgical guidewire used in surgery comprising:
 a chuck for selectively coupling motive force to a surgical guidewire; and   an actuator, coupled to the chuck, for imparting an axial and rotary motive force to the chuck.