Patent ID: 6669709
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter apparatus for creating an elongate slit in the wall of a blood vessel, said apparatus comprising:a catheter body sized and configure to be inserted in the lumen of the blood vessel; a cutting element that is alternately disposable in i) a stowed position wherein the catheter body may be advanced through the blood vessel lumen without the cutting element causing substantial trauma to the blood vessel wall and ii) a deployed position wherein the cutting element extends laterally from the catheter body such that it penetrates throought he wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter body is positioned, said cutting element being longitudinally movable after being placed in its deployed position so as to create an elongate slit in the blood vessel wall cutting element deployment apparatus for moving the cutting element from its stowed position to its deployed position; and cutting element longitudinal movement apparatus for moving the cutting element longitudinally while the cutting element is in its deployed position.