Assisted cutting balloon
First Claim
1. A method for performing balloon angioplasty, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting an assisted cutting balloon into a target coronary segment partially occluded with plaque, the assisted cutting balloon having a dilation balloon with one or more cutting devices operably positioned on an exterior of the dilation balloon and a laser fiber within the dilation balloon;
(b) inflating the dilation balloon with a liquid medium; and
(c) vibrating the one or more cutting devices by emitting laser light from the laser fiber, thereby creating shockwaves that propagate through the liquid medium and causing the one or more cutting devices to vibrate, wherein the laser light is 308 nm laser light pulsed at durations ranging from 120-140 nsec; and
whereby the inflating and/or inflated dilation balloon crushes softer portions of the plaque and the vibrating one or more cutting devices cuts relative harder or calcified portions of the plaque.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dilation balloon is wrapped in one or more patterns with a wire or braided material having diamond abrasive or other abrasive material bonded thereto. The wire or braided material is vibrated in one or more ways to enhance the cutting action of the wire abrasive. The wire abrasive may be vibrated using high, low, or even ultrasonic waves transmitted to the wire abrasive via local or remote methods. Alternatively, the dilation balloon may be dilated with a contrast media that exhibits a high absorption to laser light. The contrast material is lased with a laser fiber or fibers inserted into the balloon interior, creating a substantial shockwave that vibrates the balloon and assists in the cracking or abrading of the surrounding plaque in contact with the dilation balloon. The cutting balloon may employ the abrasive coated wires described above or cutting blades.
155 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for performing balloon angioplasty, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an assisted cutting balloon into a target coronary segment partially occluded with plaque, the assisted cutting balloon having a dilation balloon with one or more cutting devices operably positioned on an exterior of the dilation balloon and a laser fiber within the dilation balloon; (b) inflating the dilation balloon with a liquid medium; and (c) vibrating the one or more cutting devices by emitting laser light from the laser fiber, thereby creating shockwaves that propagate through the liquid medium and causing the one or more cutting devices to vibrate, wherein the laser light is 308 nm laser light pulsed at durations ranging from 120-140 nsec; and whereby the inflating and/or inflated dilation balloon crushes softer portions of the plaque and the vibrating one or more cutting devices cuts relative harder or calcified portions of the plaque. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An assisted cutting balloon for performing balloon angioplasty comprising:
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a dilation balloon; one or more cutting devices operably positioned on an exterior of the dilation balloon; a laser light source terminating at a distal end in the interior of the dilation balloon, wherein laser light generated by the laser light source is 308 nm laser light pulsed at durations ranging from 120-140 nsec; and a contrast medium for inflating the dilation balloon; whereby, as and/or after the dilation balloon is inflated with the contrast medium, the laser light source transmits pulsed laser light into the contrast medium creating shockwaves that propagate through the contrast medium causing the one or more cutting devices to vibrate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification