Minimally invasive intravascular treatment device

Abstract

A device for treating a target area of a vessel wall of a vessel within a human or animal body, the device comprising: an expandable portion for radially expanding the device from a contracted configuration allowing travel within the vessel to the target area to an expanded configuration allowing treatment of the target area; a protective sheath stretch-fitted over the expandable portion to exert a compressive force on the expandable portion for radially contracting the device from its expanded configuration to its contracted configuration, and for exerting a compressive force on the expandable portion in its contracted configuration; and at least two spaced apart treatment implements extending radially outwardly from the expandable portion, wherein in the device's contracted configuration the implements are shielded within the protective sheath, and in its expanded configuration the thickness of the sheath decreases to expose the implements for contact with the target area of the vessel wall. A protective sheath for fitting to a device for treating a target area of a vessel wall of a vessel within a human or animal body, a balloon catheter sheath loading device and method for loading a tubular sheath onto a balloon catheter, and a method of treating one or more target areas of a vessel wall within a human or animal body are also disclosed.

Description

Technical field [0001] The invention relates to a medical device. In particular, the present invention relates to a catheter-based medical device for treating internal body cavities such as arteries / blood vessels or other hollow organs. Background technique [0002] The leading cause of death in the world is diseases of the circulatory system, and the incidence of this disease in young patients is gradually increasing. In addition, the global society is following the trend that people are exposing themselves to more pathogenic factors related to vascular diseases on a larger scale. [0003] For example, in the front page of a recent Irish national newspaper article "Tipping the scales: Childobesity levels triple" (TheIrish Examiner 22 / 11 / 04), the rate of increase in obesity in Irish society caused Attracted the attention of the public. In addition, the statistics that led to death raised the actual extent of the problem. In Ireland, 40% of deaths in the country during 1998-2003 (...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, current devices are limited by their field of application

Another problem commonly suffered by current devices is incomplete deflation or failure of deflation of the bladder

This can lead to serious safety concerns as the balloon must be able to deflate quickly and completely to allow the catheter to be removed from the vessel without causing damage to the vessel wall

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