Patent ID: 6746463
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A cutting device which comprises:a catheter; an elongated balloon defining an axis, said balloon being mounted on said catheter for reconfiguration between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration; a substantially straight, elongated blade formed with a sharp edge and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, with the proximal end portion attached to said balloon to orient said blade in a plane with the axis of said balloon and to project the sharp edge of the blade in a radial direction from the axis of said balloon; and a means for inflating the balloon into its inflated configuration to separate said distal end portion of said blade from said balloon and incline said blade relative to the axis, with an increasing distance between the blade and the axis in a distal direction, to present the sharp edge of said distal end portion of said blade for cutting an object as said device is moved relative to the object in a proximal direction.