Patent ID: 6027486
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of treating a site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of:providing a catheter having an elongate, flexible, tubular body and a dilatation balloon on the body, the balloon inflatable to a first inflation profile wherein at least one reference segment, and a focal segment of said balloon are inflatable to a first diameter and a second inflation profile wherein the focal segment of said balloon is inflatable to a second greater diameter while the reference segment remains at a diameter which is less than the second diameter;positioning the catheter within a body lumen so that the balloon is adjacent a treatment site;inflating the balloon to a first inflation pressure, wherein said reference and said focal segment are expected to inflate to said first inflation profile;observing the actual inflation profile of the balloon at the first inflation pressure;comparing the observed inflation profile to the expected inflation profile at the first inflation pressure; andselecting a subsequent treatment in response to the comparison of the actual inflation profile at the first inflation pressure to the expected profile at the first inflation pressure.