Apparatus and methods for treating hardened vascular lesions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of dilating a stenosed region in a blood vessel, the method comprising:
- introducing an external structure having a distal end and a proximal end carried over an expandable shell, wherein the external structure is unattached to the shell, the distal end is fixedly attached to a catheter body, and the proximal end is connected to the catheter body by an attachment structure; and
expanding the expandable shell to dilate the external structure within the stenosed region within the blood vessel, wherein the proximal end of the external structure moves distally and the attachment structure axially lengthens to accommodate such distal movement of the external structure as the shell is expanded, wherein the attachment structure comprises a compliance tube having one or more perforations to enhance compliance; and
wherein the one or more perforations comprise one or more slots extending along the outside circumference of the compliance tube.
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Abstract
An angioplasty catheter comprises a catheter body having a balloon or other radially expandable shell at its distal end. A non-axial external structure is carried over the shell and scores a stenosed region in a blood vessel when the balloon is inflated therein. The catheter has an attachment structure disposed between the catheter body and the balloon to accommodate foreshortening and rotation of the external structure as the balloon is expanded. The external structure may be part of a helical cage structure which floats over the balloon.
407 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of dilating a stenosed region in a blood vessel, the method comprising:
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introducing an external structure having a distal end and a proximal end carried over an expandable shell, wherein the external structure is unattached to the shell, the distal end is fixedly attached to a catheter body, and the proximal end is connected to the catheter body by an attachment structure; and expanding the expandable shell to dilate the external structure within the stenosed region within the blood vessel, wherein the proximal end of the external structure moves distally and the attachment structure axially lengthens to accommodate such distal movement of the external structure as the shell is expanded, wherein the attachment structure comprises a compliance tube having one or more perforations to enhance compliance; and wherein the one or more perforations comprise one or more slots extending along the outside circumference of the compliance tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification