| abstract |
A system and method for treating diseased target tissue of a living being. The system comprises a working head, e.g., a rotary impacting impeller, a stent delivery catheter, a flush catheter, or liquid jets, a debris extraction sub-system, and may have barrier means in certain embodiments. The working head is arranged to treat diseased tissue, e.g., at least partially occluded with atherosclerotic plaque, or surrounding tissue being compromised by a disease such as cancer, in vessels or lumens, whereupon some debris may be produced. The debris extraction sub-system introduces an infusate liquid adjacent the working head and withdraws that liquid and debris adjacent the working head. The introduction of the infusate liquid may also be used to deliver drugs and other therapies systemically or locally, between the working head and the distal protection barrier. |