Material capturing guidewire

Abstract

This disclosure discusses various methods and devices for capturing plaque that is to be removed from a blood vessel after the plaque has been separated from the blood vessel or remaining plaque.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of removing plaque within a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a catheter into the blood vessel;   separating at least a portion of the plaque from the blood vessel using the catheter;   inserting a guidewire into the blood vessel;   attaching the portion of the plaque within the blood vessel to a portion of the guidewire; and   concurrently removing, from the blood vessel, the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire.   
     
     
         22 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of removing the catheter from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel prior to removing the catheter from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel concurrently with removing the catheter from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the guidewire and the plaque attached to the guidewire are removed from the blood vessel after removing the catheter from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the catheter comprises a blade for cutting the portion of the plaque from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the catheter comprises a plurality of laser emitters for ablating the portion of the plaque from the blood vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the guidewire comprises a plurality of protrusions extending radially therefrom. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the protrusions are tines. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the protrusions are barbs. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the guidewire comprises at least one helically shaped flute.