Patent ID: 8398662
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A scoring catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body comprising a distal end and a proximal end; the elongated catheter body having a longitudinal axis; at least one scoring element positioned at said distal end of the catheter body, wherein said at least one scoring element is expandable from a contracted state when positioned near said catheter body to an expanded state with a larger diameter so that diseased heart valves can be scored and re-opened; said at least one scoring element comprising at least one pivotable rodlet and at least one spreading element, a free end of the at least one scoring element being capable of scoring diseased heart valves; the at least one scoring and the at least one spreading elements being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated catheter body when in the contracted state; wherein said at least one pivotable rodlet is hinged in its middle part at a proximal end of at least one spread rodlet extending in a longitudinal direction of said at least one scoring element in the contracted state; said at least one pivotable rodlet having a cutting edge at its free end; wherein a proximal end of said at least one pivotable rodlet is movable in the longitudinal direction of the at least one scoring element relative to a distal end of said at least one spread rodlet thereby pivoting said pivotable rodlet.