Apparatus and methods for treating hardened vascular lesions
US7686824B2 · kind B2 · utility
135Cited by
103References
54Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/1086
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A plaque scoring catheter comprises a catheter body having a balloon or other radially expansible shell at its distal end. A non-axial scoring structure is carried over the shell and scores a stenosed region in a blood vessel when the balloon is inflated therein. The non-axial scoring structure may be formed directly on the balloon or may alternatively be part of a cage structure which floats over the balloon. Exemplary configurations for the scoring structure include helical, serpentine, and irregular.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.