Patent ID: 7186237
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A balloon catheter for performing an angioplasty procedure on a lesion in a vessel comprising a flexible elongate catheter shaft having proximal and distal extremities, a balloon secured to the distal extremity of the catheter shaft and having proximal and distal extremities and having an interior and an inflatable portion movable between deflated and inflated conditions, the catheter shaft having a balloon inflation lumen extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity of the catheter shaft and opening into the interior of the balloon, a fitting for supplying an inflation medium to the inflation lumen for causing movement of the inflatable portion of the balloon from the deflated condition to the inflated condition, the inflatable portion of the balloon having an outer surface which moves outwardly radially upon inflation of the balloon and at least one flexible elongate element extending over the outer surface of the balloon from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity of the balloon, said flexible elongate element having a proximal extremity coupled to the catheter shaft proximal of the inflatable portion of the balloon and a distal extremity, an elastic member distinct from the flexible elongate element for coupling the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element to the catheter shaft distal of the inflatable portion of the balloon and for permitting the flexible elongate element to move radially outward as the balloon is inflated whereby expansion of the balloon causes movement of the flexible elongate element into engagement with the lesion to form a longitudinal channel in the lesion.