Cutting balloon catheter having a segmented blade

• US 7,291,158 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bence, Steven W., Crow, Loren M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams; Amanda
• Application Number:
  US10/987,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/167, 606/170, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22061 for spreading elements apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

A cutting balloon catheter and method of making and using the same. The cutting balloon catheter may include a catheter shaft having a balloon coupled thereto. One or more cutting members or blades may be coupled to the balloon. The cutting members may include two or more sections that are connected via a fracturable or yielding bridge section that increases flexibility when passing through or being utilized in tortuous anatomy.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a distal end region;

a balloon coupled to the distal end region;

a cutting member coupled to the balloon, the cutting member having a cutting surface, a base, a first segment, a second segment, and a bridge segment extending between the first segment and the second segment, wherein the bridge segment yields when flexed beyond a selected curvature during use;

further comprising a joining member disposed adjacent the base of the cutting member and coupled to the balloon;

wherein the joining member encapsulates the bridge segment; and

wherein the bridge segment is configured to separate from the first segment, the second segment, or both during use of the medical device.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the bridge segment remains encapsulated in the joining member when the bridge is separated from the first segment, the second segment, or both.

3. A cutting balloon catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft;

a balloon coupled to the catheter shaft;

a joining member coupled to the balloon; and

a cutting member coupled to the joining member, the cutting member including a cutting surface extending from a base having a first section and a second section with a bridge disposed therebetween, wherein the bridge selectively yields in response to curvature of the vasculature during use;

wherein the joining member encapsulates the bridge; and

wherein the bridge is configured to separate from the first section, the second section, or both during use of the cutting balloon.

4. The cutting balloon of claim 3, wherein the bridge remains encapsulated in the joining member when the bridge is separated from the first section, the second section, or both.

5. A method of using a cutting balloon catheter, comprising the steps of:

providing a cutting balloon catheter, the cutting balloon catheter including an elongate catheter shaft, a balloon coupled to shaft, and one or more cutting members coupled to the balloon, the cutting members each including a cutting surface extending from a base including a first section and a second section with a bridge disposed between the first section and the second section that yields when flexed beyond a selected curvature;

advancing the cutting balloon catheter through a blood vessel to a position adjacent an area of interest;

inflating the balloon, whereby the balloon and the cutting members engage the area of interest;

deflating the balloon;

withdrawing the cutting balloon catheter from the blood vessel; and

wherein the step of advancing the cutting balloon catheter through a blood vessel to a position adjacent an area of interest includes separating one or more of the bridges from the corresponding first section, second section, or both.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bridges remains encapsulated in the polymeric strip when one or more of the bridges are separated from the corresponding first section, second section, or both.