Transluminal angioplasty apparatus
First Claim
1. A surgical apparatus for performing transluminal angioplasty, comprising:
- a hollow metallic guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end;
an expandable balloon member affixed to said hollow guidewire near said distal end; and
a fill hole located in the wall of said hollow guidewire and within said expandable balloon member when said balloon member is affixed to said guidewire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for performing transluminal angioplasty is provided. The apparatus of the present invention may be utilized in blood vessels of very small cross-sectional diameter as well as in blood vessels of larger diameter. The apparatus of the present invention includes a hollow metallic guidewire with an expandable balloon member affixed to the hollow guidewire at or near the distal end thereof. The hollow guidewire is preferably metallic and more preferably made of stainless steel. In the preferred embodiment, the metallic guidewire provides a catheter of extremely small diameter while simultaneously imparting good torque control and excellent pushability of the apparatus within the blood vessel being treated.
272 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A surgical apparatus for performing transluminal angioplasty, comprising:
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a hollow metallic guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable balloon member affixed to said hollow guidewire near said distal end; and a fill hole located in the wall of said hollow guidewire and within said expandable balloon member when said balloon member is affixed to said guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical apparatus for performing transluminal angioplasty, comprising:
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a stainless steel hollow guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, said hollow guidewire having an outer diameter of less than about 0.04 inches; an expandable balloon member affixed to said hollow guidewire near said distal end; and a fill hole located in the side of said hollow guidewire and within said expandable balloon member when said balloon member is affixed to said guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification