ASSISTED CUTTING BALLOON

摘要

A dilation balloon is wrapped in one or more patterns with a wire or braided material having diamond abrasive or other abrasive material bonded thereto. The wire or braided material is vibrated in one or more ways to enhance the cutting action of the wire abrasive. The wire abrasive may be vibrated using high, low, or even ultrasonic waves transmitted to the wire abrasive via local or remote methods. Alternatively, the dilation balloon may be dilated with a contrast media that exhibits a high absorption to laser light. The contrast material is lased with a laser fiber or fibers inserted into the balloon interior, creating a substantial shockwave that vibrates the balloon and assists in the cracking or abrading of the surrounding plaque in contact with the dilation balloon. The cutting balloon may employ the abrasive coated wires described above or cutting blades.

主权项

1. A method for performing balloon angioplasty, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) inserting an assisted cutting balloon into a target coronary segment partially occluded with plaque, the assisted cutting balloon having a dilation balloon with one or more cutting devices operably positioned on an exterior of the dilation balloon; (b) vibrating the one or more cutting devices; and (c) inflating the dilation balloon; whereby the expanding dilation balloon crushes the softer portions of the plaque and the vibrating one or more cutting devices cuts the harder or calcified portions of the plaque.