Patent ID: 7799043

Claim:
A cutting balloon for use on a medical catheter to incise tissue at a treatment site in a body vessel of a patient, said cutting balloon comprising: an elongated balloon defining a longitudinal axis, said balloon being inflatable from a first deflated configuration to a second radially expanded configuration; an elongated incising element mounted on said balloon and oriented longitudinally, said incising element having a length and extending radially from said balloon to an operative surface feature capable of incising tissue; and a radially compressible sheath mounted on said balloon along the length of said incising element and extending radially from said balloon and beyond said surface feature when said balloon is in the first configuration to protect said surface feature during transit to the treatment site, said sheath being positioned for radial compression between said tissue and said balloon to expose said surface feature for tissue incision when said balloon is inflated into the second configuration.