Patent ID: 9320530
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M

Claim Text:
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.