Patent ID: 6972024
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of treating vulnerable plaque, comprising: a) performing an analytical method on a plaque intended to identify the plaque as vulnerable plaque, and positioning a wingless balloon of a balloon catheter in a portion of a body lumen having the vulnerable plaque, the balloon having a wingless unexpanded diameter which inflates to an expanded diameter configured to intentionally damage the plaque if the plaque is vulnerable plaque with minimal consequences to the plaque if the plaque is stable plaque; and b) inflating the wingless balloon, to expand the balloon from the wingless unexpanded diameter to the expanded diameter to intentionally damage the vulnerable plaque by disrupting a fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque without cap rupture, to thereby strengthen the vulnerable plaque by inducing extracellular matrix protein synthesis.