System and method for treating biological vessels
First Claim
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1. A system for performing angioplasty comprising:
- (a) a balloon mounted on a catheter shaft and having a longitudinal axis; and
(b) an expandable constraining structure including a plurality of axial struts crossing a plurality of radially-expandable rings configured for constraining said balloon such that isolated balloon regions protrude through openings in said constraining structure when said balloon is inflated,said expandable constraining structure being configured such that radial expansion of said radially-expandable rings does not substantially alter a distance between adjacent radially-expandable rings along said longitudinal axis,wherein said expandable constraining structure is configured such that radial expansion of said radially-expandable rings axially moves adjacent axial struts attached to said adjacent radially-expandable rings in opposite directions wherein said expandable constraining structure further includes first and second end rings for fixedly attaching said expandable constraining structure to the catheter shaft.
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Abstract
A system for performing angioplasty and a method of utilizing same are provided. The system includes a balloon mounted on a catheter shaft and an expandable constraining structure mounted over the balloon. The expandable constraining structure includes a plurality of axial struts crossing a plurality of radially-expandable rings being for constraining said balloon such that isolated balloon regions protrude through openings in said constraining structure when the balloon is inflated.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for performing angioplasty comprising:
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(a) a balloon mounted on a catheter shaft and having a longitudinal axis; and (b) an expandable constraining structure including a plurality of axial struts crossing a plurality of radially-expandable rings configured for constraining said balloon such that isolated balloon regions protrude through openings in said constraining structure when said balloon is inflated, said expandable constraining structure being configured such that radial expansion of said radially-expandable rings does not substantially alter a distance between adjacent radially-expandable rings along said longitudinal axis, wherein said expandable constraining structure is configured such that radial expansion of said radially-expandable rings axially moves adjacent axial struts attached to said adjacent radially-expandable rings in opposite directions wherein said expandable constraining structure further includes first and second end rings for fixedly attaching said expandable constraining structure to the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of treating a body vessel comprising:
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(a) positioning, in the vessel, a balloon disposed within an expandable constraining structure including a plurality of axial struts crossing a plurality of radially-expandable rings configured for constraining said balloon such that isolated balloon regions protrude through openings in said expandable constraining structure when said balloon is inflated; said expandable constraining structure being configured such that radial expansion of said radially-expandable rings; (i) does not substantially alter an axial distance between adjacent radially-expandable rings; and (ii) axially moves adjacent axial struts attached to said adjacent radially-expandable rings in opposite directions; and (b) inflating said balloon so as to enable said isolated balloon regions to protrude through said openings and contact a wall of the vessel while said plurality of axial struts and said plurality of radially-expandable rings are displaced from the vessel, thereby treating the body vessel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification