DILATION CATHETER ASSEMBLY WITH BIPOLAR CUTTING ELEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bipolar dilation-and-cutting catheter assembly adapted for insertion into a body conduit of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate tubular body having an axis and a distal end carrying a generally cylindrical radially dilatable member adapted to be positioned longitudinally in a body conduit and having properties for dilating generally radially of the tubular body;
at least two wires carried by the tubular body exteriorly of the dilatable member, the wires disposed longitudinally of the tubular body and movable radially in a plane including the axis of the tubular body;
means for dilating the dilatable member to exert dilation forces on the body conduit and to move the wires to a position adjacent to the tissue of the body conduit; and
means for activating the wires to create an incision in the tissue.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the dilatation of obstructed body vessels, orifices and conduits, combined with a controlled and regulated incision of the dilated body vessels using a bipolar or quasi-bipolar electrosurgical cutting wire arrangement is presented.
58 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A bipolar dilation-and-cutting catheter assembly adapted for insertion into a body conduit of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular body having an axis and a distal end carrying a generally cylindrical radially dilatable member adapted to be positioned longitudinally in a body conduit and having properties for dilating generally radially of the tubular body; at least two wires carried by the tubular body exteriorly of the dilatable member, the wires disposed longitudinally of the tubular body and movable radially in a plane including the axis of the tubular body; means for dilating the dilatable member to exert dilation forces on the body conduit and to move the wires to a position adjacent to the tissue of the body conduit; and means for activating the wires to create an incision in the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bipolar dilation catheter assembly adapted for insertion into a body conduit of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular body having an axis and a distal end carrying a generally cylindrical inflatable balloon that is adapted to be connected to a source of inflation fluid and that is adapted to be positioned longitudinally in a body conduit and having properties for dilating generally radially of the tubular body; a pair of wires carried by the tubular body exteriorly of the inflatable balloon, the wires disposed longitudinally of the tubular body and movable radially in a plane including the axis of the tubular body, wherein at least one of the wires is adapted to connect to a generator having electrical power to create a current density in the tissue proximate to the wires, the electrical power being sufficient to cut the tissue.
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11. A quasi-bipolar dilation-and-cutting catheter assembly adapted for insertion into a body conduit of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular body having an axis and a distal end carrying a generally cylindrical radially dilatable member adapted to be positioned longitudinally in a body conduit and having properties for dilating generally radially of the tubular body; a first electrode, comprising a wire carried by the tubular body exteriorly of the dilatable member, the wire disposed longitudinally of the tubular body and movable radially in a plane including the axis of the tubular body; a second electrode disposed exteriorly around the surface of the dilatable member; means for dilating the dilatable member to exert dilation forces on the body conduit and to move the first and second electrodes to a position adjacent to the tissue of the body conduit; and means for activating the electrodes to create an incision in the living tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A quasi-bipolar dilation catheter assembly adapted for insertion into a body conduit of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular body having an axis and a distal end carrying a generally cylindrical inflatable balloon that is adapted to be connected to a source of inflation fluid and that is adapted to be positioned longitudinally in a body conduit and having properties for dilating generally radially of the tubular body; an electrode disposed around the outside surface of the balloon; and a wire carried by the tubular body exteriorly of the balloon, the wire disposed longitudinally of the tubular body and movable radially in a plane including the axis of the tubular body, wherein the wire is adapted to connect to a generator having electrical power to create a current density in the tissue proximate to the wire, the electrical power being sufficient to cut the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for cutting a body conduit, comprising:
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a supporting structure having an outer surface; a first electrode having a first portion disposed in a fixed relationship with the supporting structure and a second portion disposed outwardly of the outer surface in a movable relationship with the supporting structure; moving means disposed between the supporting structure and the second portion of the first electrode for moving the second portion of the first electrode into proximity with the tissue to be cut; a second electrode, disposed on the exterior of the moving means; and activating means for electrically activating the electrodes to cut the body conduit. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification