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Catheter with electrosurgical cutter

  • US 5,904,679 A
  • Filed: 03/22/1994
  • Issued: 05/18/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for dilating a non-vascular body conduit, comprising:

  • inserting into the non-vascular conduit a dilation catheter assembly comprising an elongate tubular body having a distal end carrying a radially dilatable member adapted to be positioned in the conduit and to exert pressure on surrounding body tissue to provide a substantially uniform tangential tension in the tissue, and a cutting element carried on the dilatable member;

    dilating the dilatable member to simultaneously stress the tissue and engage the tissue with the cutting element;

    electrically activating the cutting element;

    incising the stressed tissue with the cutting element;

    radially contracting the dilatable member to cause the dilatable member and cutting element to disengage the tissue; and

    withdrawing the dilation catheter assembly from the conduit.

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