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Eccentric balloon laser catheter

  • US 9,907,615 B2
  • Filed: 05/15/2017
  • Issued: 03/06/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for using a catheter, the method comprising:

  • (a) inserting the catheter into a vessel, wherein the catheter comprises (i) a catheter body including a central axis, a proximal end, a distal end face, and a cavity disposed within a periphery of the catheter body, (ii) a light guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end face of the catheter body, and (iii) a balloon coupled with the catheter body, wherein at least a first portion of the balloon is disposed within the cavity;

    (b) coupling a laser to the light guide;

    (c) positioning the catheter near a target within the vessel;

    (d) activating the laser while the balloon is in an uninflated state and ablating at least a first portion of the target;

    (e) inflating the balloon to an inflated state, after activating the laser while the balloon is in the uninflated state, thereby causing at least a second portion of the inflated balloon to extend outside the cavity eccentrically relative to the catheter body and proximally relative to the distal end face of the catheter body and press against an inner wall of the vessel or the target;

    (f) activating the laser while the balloon is in the inflated state and ablating at least a second portion of the target; and

    (g) axially moving the distal end face of the catheter body relative to the balloon in a longitudinal direction of the central axis within the vessel while the balloon is in the inflated state.

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