Clinical Study of Stent Versus Direct Atherectomy to Treat Lower Limb Ischemia

This is a randomized study comparing stent and plaque excision systems in treatment of diabetic lower limb (superficial femoral or popliteal artery) ischemia.

Inclusion criteria

Provides written informed consent Willing to comply with follow-up evaluations at specified times Has claudication or rest pain due to peripheral arterial disease Disease located within the femoropopliteal artery Patient has a de novo or restenotic lesion(s) with >50% stenosis documented angiographically and no prior stent in the target lesion.

Patient has symptoms of peripheral arterial disease classified as Rutherford Category 2 or greater.

Exclusion criteria

Previously implanted stent(s) or stent graft(s) in target leg Life expectancy less than 12 months Has any planned surgical or endovascular intervention of target vessel 30 days before or after index procedure Thrombophlebitis, uremia, or deep venous thrombus, within past 30 days. Receiving dialysis or immunosuppressant therapy. Recent stroke within past 90 days. Known allergies to the following: aspirin, clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix®) or ticlopidine (Ticlid®), heparin, Nitinol (nickel titanium), contrast agent, that cannot be medically managed.

Tissue loss due to ischemic disease (Rutherford/Becker category 5 or 6) Serum creatinine level >/= 2.5 mg/dl at time of screening visit Known or suspected active infection at the time of the procedure Bleeding diathesis Patient is unwilling or unable to comply with procedures specified in the protocol or has difficulty or inability to return for follow-up visits as specified by the protocol.

Patient is known to be pregnant, incarcerated, mentally incompetent, and/or alcohol or drug abuser.

Patient is currently participating in any other investigational drug or medical device study that has not completed primary endpoint(s) evaluation or clinically interferes with the endpoints from this study or future participation in such studies prior to the completion of this study.