Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a handle and a drive motor that is adapted to rotate a drive cable extending through the handle and operably coupled to an atherectomy burr. A control system is adapted to regulate operation of the drive motor, including providing the drive motor with a high frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) drive signal in order to operate the drive motor. The control system monitors a motor performance parameter such as motor speed or motor torque, and when the motor performance parameter approaches a limit of a performance range, the control system adds a low frequency PWM signal to the high frequency PWM drive signal, thereby causing the drive motor to produce a tactile signal that signals to the user that the motor performance parameter is approaching the limit of the performance range.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an atherectomy burr and a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate the atherectomy burr and to accommodate a guidewire extending therethrough. A controller is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. A guidewire extends through the drive mechanism and an electromagnetic guidewire clamp is adapted to releasably secure the guidewire relative to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an electric drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism. The controller regulates operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a power input limit value that limits how much power can be put into an atherectomy burr and an energy input limit value that limits how much energy can be put into the atherectomy burr. The controller may also regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a dynamic torque limit.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an electric drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism. The controller regulates operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a power input limit value that limits how much power can be put into an atherectomy burr and an energy input limit value that limits how much energy can be put into the atherectomy burr. The controller may also regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a dynamic torque limit.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an atherectomy burr and a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate the atherectomy burr and to accommodate a guidewire extending therethrough. A controller is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. A guidewire extends through the drive mechanism and an electromagnetic guidewire clamp is adapted to releasably secure the guidewire relative to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. In some cases, the drive mechanism includes a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and an electric drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The controller is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive motor such that the drive mechanism emulates one or more performance parameters of an air turbine.

Abstract: Methods include capturing intravascular ultrasound images. A drive motor is used to actively drive an ultrasound transducer at a set rotation speed. A temporary sensing window is created in which the ultrasound transducer is driven with a fixed drive signal. A plurality of signals from are received the ultrasound transducer during the temporary sensing window.

Abstract: An atherectomy system is adapted for both anterograde ablation and retrograde ablation, and includes a drive coil and an atherectomy tool coupled to the drive coil, the atherectomy tool including a distal region adapted for anterograde ablation and a proximal region adapted for retrograde ablation. A proximal handle includes an actuation member adapted to be movable in a first direction to urge the atherectomy tool in an anterograde ablation direction and to be movable in a second direction to urge the atherectomy tool in a retrograde ablation direction. The atherectomy system is adapted such that the actuation member provides a similar feedback to a user regardless of whether the atherectomy tool is ablating in the anterograde ablation direction or in the retrograde ablation direction.

Abstract: Medical systems and methods for making and using medical systems are disclosed. Example medical systems may include an atherectomy system configured to engage and remove plaque from walls in vessels of a vascular system. The atherectomy system may include a drive shaft, a rotational member coupled to an end of the drive shaft, a motor coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the rotational tip, and a control unit configured to control a motor state of the motor. The motor may be an electric motor. The control unit may adjust the motor state to decelerate the motor in response to detecting a jam or a stall condition. The jam or stall condition may be detected when a speed of the motor or other motor state reaches or goes beyond a threshold value as prescribed by a reference schedule.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a user interface that an operator engages with in order to indicate requested movement of a drive assembly. One or more sensors are adapted to ascertain one or more conditions of the drive assembly and to output one or more condition signals to a controller that is operably coupled with the operator assembly and the drive assembly. The controller is adapted to receive the request signal from the operator assembly and the one or more condition signals, to determine a command signal in response to the received request signal and the received one or more condition signals, and provide the command signal to the drive assembly. The drive assembly is adapted to move relative to the advancer assembly in accordance with the command signal.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an advancer assembly and a drive assembly that is adapted to translate relative to the advancer assembly. A control knob extends from the drive assembly such that translating the control knob results in the drive assembly translating relative to the advancer assembly. A drive shaft is operably coupled with the drive assembly, the drive shaft translating relative to the advancer assembly as the drive assembly translates relative to the advancer assembly. A feedback modifier is operably coupled between the drive assembly and the advancer assembly and is adapted to provide a user of the atherectomy system with similar feedback via the control knob regardless of whether the user is moving the drive assembly in an anterograde ablation direction or a retrograde ablation direction.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive assembly and an advancer assembly. The drive assembly, which may be reusable, includes a drive motor having an output shaft and a first coupler segment that is secured relative to the output shaft. A controller may be adapted to regulate operation of the drive motor. The advancer assembly, which may be single use, includes a flexible drive cable that is adapted to be releasably securable to the first coupler segment. The advancer assembly includes gearing that is secured within the advancer assembly and is operably coupled with the flexible drive cable. A burr catheter is coupled with and extends distally of the gearing. The advancer assembly is adapted to enable relative translation of the burr catheter in order to advance and withdraw an atherectomy burr rotatably secured to a distal end of the burr catheter.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. In some cases, the drive mechanism includes a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and a drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The controller is adapted to receive an indication of an increase in torque experienced at the atherectomy burr and is further adapted to, in response, regulate operation of the drive mechanism such that the increase in torque results in a noticeable reduction in speed of the drive mechanism such that a user of the atherectomy system notices the reduction in speed and is alerted to the increase in torque.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. A guidewire motion detector is adapted to detect movement of the guidewire. The controller is further adapted to take action when the guidewire motion detector detects movement of the guidewire relative to the drive mechanism while the drive mechanism is operating.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. In some cases, the drive mechanism includes a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and a drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The controller is adapted to receive an indication of an increase in torque experienced at the atherectomy burr and is further adapted to, in response, regulate operation of the drive mechanism such that the increase in torque results in a noticeable reduction in speed of the drive mechanism such that a user of the atherectomy system notices the reduction in speed and is alerted to the increase in torque.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. A guidewire motion detector is adapted to detect movement of the guidewire. The controller is further adapted to take action when the guidewire motion detector detects movement of the guidewire relative to the drive mechanism while the drive mechanism is operating.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes an electric drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism. The controller regulates operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a power input limit value that limits how much power can be put into an atherectomy burr and an energy input limit value that limits how much energy can be put into the atherectomy burr. The controller may also regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a dynamic torque limit.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a control system that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may include a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and a drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The control system includes a drive module adapted to provide an operational signal to operate the drive mechanism, a monitoring module adapted to monitor operation of the drive mechanism and to determine if the drive mechanism is operating within a predetermined range and an excitation module that is operably coupled to the drive mechanism and is adapted to provide haptic feedback to a user of the drive mechanism if the monitoring module determines that the drive mechanism is not operating within a predetermined range.