Cutting balloon catheter having flexible atherotomes

• US 9,603,619 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bence, Steven W., Asconeguy, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson, Ryan J
• Application Number:
  US14/671,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A61B 2017/320733 with a flexible cutting or scraping element, e.g. with a whip-like distal filament member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

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 configured to be more flexible.

Claims

1. A cutting balloon catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft;

an inflatable balloon coupled to the catheter shaft proximate a distal end of the catheter shaft;

a flexible joining member mounted on the balloon; and

a cutting member having a base portion embedded within the flexible joining member, the cutting member constructed of a single continuous piece of material forming a first cutting edge portion, a second cutting edge portion, and a flexible bridge spanning a gap between the first cutting edge portion and the second cutting edge portion ;

wherein the flexible bridge is embedded within the flexible joining member.

2. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the gap extends to an upper extent of the cutting member.

3. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein an upper extent of the first cutting edge portion includes a first sharpened cutting edge and an upper extent of the second cutting edge portion includes a second sharpened cutting edge.

4. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the gap spaces apart the first and second sharpened cutting edges.

5. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible joining member is disposed in the gap above the flexible bridge.

6. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible joining member includes a polymeric material.

7. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes alternating tabs and holes.

8. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the alternating tabs and holes provide interlocking engagement with the flexible joining member.

9. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 8, wherein the holes are filled with material of the flexible joining member.

10. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongate catheter shaft includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member surrounding the inner tubular member.

11. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein a proximal waist of the inflatable balloon is affixed to the outer tubular member and a distal waist of the inflatable balloon is affixed to the inner tubular member.

12. A cutting balloon catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft;

an inflatable balloon coupled to the catheter shaft proximate a distal end of the catheter shaft;

a flexible joining member mounted on the balloon; and

a cutting member constructed of a single continuous piece of material forming a first cutting edge portion, a second cutting edge portion and a flexible bridge, the first cutting edge portion having a first base portion embedded within the flexible joining member and a first cutting edge at an upper extent of the first cutting edge portion, the second cutting edge portion having a second base portion embedded within the flexible joining member and a second cutting edge at an upper extent of the second cutting edge portion, and the flexible bridge spanning a gap between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge such that the first cutting edge is discontinuous from the second cutting edge;

wherein the flexible bridge is embedded within the flexible joining member.

13. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein a portion of the flexible joining member is disposed in the gap above the flexible bridge.

14. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the flexible joining member includes a polymeric material.

15. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the first and second base portions include alternating tabs and holes embedded in the flexible joining member.

16. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 15, wherein the alternating tabs and holes provide interlocking engagement with the flexible joining member.

17. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 15, wherein the holes are filled with material of the flexible joining member.

18. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the elongate catheter shaft includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member surrounding the inner tubular member.

19. The cutting balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein a proximal waist of the inflatable balloon is affixed to the outer tubular member and a distal waist of the inflatable balloon is affixed to the inner tubular member.