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 . A guidewire for insertion into a blood vessel comprising:
 an elongated member;   a roughened surface on the elongated member configured to attach plaque within a blood vessel to the elongated member; and   a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the roughened surface.   
     
     
         2 . The guidewire of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions extends toward a proximal end of the elongated member. 
     
     
         3 . The guidewire of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are tines. 
     
     
         4 . The guidewire of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are barbs. 
     
     
         5 . The guidewire of  claim 1  further comprising at least one flute within the roughened surface. 
     
     
         6 . The guidewire of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one flute has a helical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The guidewire of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of notches within the roughened surface. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire of  claim 1  further comprising an expandable braided element coupled to the roughened surface. 
     
     
         9 . The guidewire of  claim 1  further comprising an unroughened surface on the elongated member having a degree of roughness less than that of the roughened surface and wherein the unroughened surface is at a proximal portion of the elongated member and the roughened surface is at a distal portion of the elongated member.