Angioplasty apparatus

An angioplasty apparatus (10) for removing abnormal deposits such as atheromatic plaque from the interior coronary or peripheric arterial walls and the like is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate hollow outer lumen (12) for insertion into an arterial vessel. A rotatable driving rod (76) is engaged with the lumen and extends forwardly into the arterial vessel. An actuator is provided in the lumen for rotating the driving rod alternately in opposite directions. A milling tool (18) having milling flutes (84) is coupled to the driving rod exterior to the lumen and mills the deposits when the milling tool is rotated and brought into contact with the abnormal deposits. The apparatus also includes an electrical sensor (20) for determining when the deposit has been removed from the arterial walls in order to preserve existing healthy arterial wall tissue and a suction device for withdrawing the milled micro-particles of the abnormal deposits.