Pleated angioplasty balloon with cutting or scoring elements

摘要

A cutting or scoring angioplasty balloon 26 is provided with a plurality of cutting orscoring elements 34 and is wrapped onto a balloon catheter 12 such that the cutting or scoring elements overlie the balloon wall 36 which is pleated underneath them. These elements remain exposed when the balloon is pleated and wrapped onto the balloon catheter in a tightly wrapped configuration. Also disclosed is a pleating tool comprising three pleating jaws (62, figure 6) with recesses to accommodate the scoring or cutting elements. Once pleated, the balloon is wrapped onto the catheter by an irisstyle wrapping device (figures 8 & 9).