Segmented balloon catheter blade
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in performing an angioplasty procedure at the site of a stenosis in the vasculature of a patient which comprises:
- an expanding member defining an axis, said expanding member having an external surface and being insertable into the vasculature of a patient for movement therein between a first configuration wherein the external surface is relatively near said axis and a second configuration wherein the external surface is relatively far from said axis; and
a plurality of blade segments mounted on said expanding member, wherein each blade segment has a sharp edge with each said blade segment being axially off-set from, and a portion thereof juxtaposed to an adjacent blade segment to allow relative movement therebetween during a movement of said member from said first configuration into said second configuration, and wherein the respective sharp edges of the plurality of blade segments collectively extend along a substantially same cutting line to embed at least one of said plurality of blade segments into the stenosis while said external surface of said expanding member conforms with the stenosis and the vasculature of the patient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for incising a stenosis in the vasculature of a patient includes a plurality of blades mounted on a resilient base member. The blades are arranged in a pattern to allow for relative movement between adjacent blades. Specifically, at least one end portion of each blade is juxtaposed with an end portion of the next closest blade. The base member, in turn, is mounted on the external surface of an inflatable angioplasty balloon. When the balloon is inserted into the vasculature of a patient, positioned across a stenosis and subsequently inflated, the individually moveable blades form an effective cutting edge that conforms to the surface of the stenosis to effectively allow the stenosis to be incised to a substantially uniform depth.
147 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in performing an angioplasty procedure at the site of a stenosis in the vasculature of a patient which comprises:
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an expanding member defining an axis, said expanding member having an external surface and being insertable into the vasculature of a patient for movement therein between a first configuration wherein the external surface is relatively near said axis and a second configuration wherein the external surface is relatively far from said axis; and a plurality of blade segments mounted on said expanding member, wherein each blade segment has a sharp edge with each said blade segment being axially off-set from, and a portion thereof juxtaposed to an adjacent blade segment to allow relative movement therebetween during a movement of said member from said first configuration into said second configuration, and wherein the respective sharp edges of the plurality of blade segments collectively extend along a substantially same cutting line to embed at least one of said plurality of blade segments into the stenosis while said external surface of said expanding member conforms with the stenosis and the vasculature of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification