Catheter assembly with plaque cutting balloon
First Claim
1. A balloon catheter assembly, comprising:
- an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
an inflatable balloon secured to said distal portion of said catheter shaft; and
a plurality of cutters disposed along an outer surface of the balloon, said cutters being shielded by folds of the balloon when said balloon is in an uninflated condition, and being arranged and configured to facilitate breakdown of a vascular restriction when said balloon is in an inflated condition, said cutters being fixedly engaged with said outer surface of said balloon.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon catheter assembly comprises an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an inflatable balloon secured to the shaft distal portion. A plurality of cutters are arranged along an outer surface of the balloon. The cutters are shielded by folds of the balloon when the balloon is uninflated, and are arranged and configured to facilitate breakdown of a vascular restriction when said balloon is inflated. Preferably, the cutters are arranged in at least three generally parallel longitudinal rows along the balloon outer surface, and there are at least three longitudinally-aligned cutters in each row. Preferably, the cutters are formed of the same or a similar base composition as the balloon, and are bonded to the balloon outer surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A balloon catheter assembly, comprising:
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an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
an inflatable balloon secured to said distal portion of said catheter shaft; and
a plurality of cutters disposed along an outer surface of the balloon, said cutters being shielded by folds of the balloon when said balloon is in an uninflated condition, and being arranged and configured to facilitate breakdown of a vascular restriction when said balloon is in an inflated condition, said cutters being fixedly engaged with said outer surface of said balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for breaking down a restriction in a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:
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providing a balloon catheter assembly for insertion into said vessel, said balloon catheter assembly comprising an elongate catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon secured to a distal portion of said catheter shaft, said balloon having a plurality of cutters fixedly disposed in respective generally parallel longitudinal rows along an outer surface of said balloon, said cutters being shielded by folds of the balloon when said balloon is in an uninflated condition, and being arranged and configured to facilitate a breakdown of said restriction when said balloon is in an inflated condition;
inserting the distal end of the balloon catheter assembly into said vessel, and advancing the assembly in the vessel with the balloon in an uninflated condition until said uninflated balloon reaches said restriction;
inflating the balloon such that said cutters penetrate said restriction;
deflating said balloon; and
withdrawing said balloon catheter assembly from said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification