91 results about "Angioplasty balloon" patented technology

An angioplasty catheter includes an elongated carrier, and an angioplasty balloon about the carrier in sealed relation thereto. The balloon is arranged to receive a fluid therein that inflates the balloon. The catheter further includes a shock wave generator within the balloon that forms a rapidly expanding and collapsing bubble within the balloon to form mechanical shock waves within the balloon. The expanding bubble forms a first shock and the collapsing balloon forms a second shock wave. The shock wave generator is arranged such that the energy of the first shock wave is greater than the energy of the second shock wave.

A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty device includes an embolic filter mounted to the catheter shaft at a location distal to the angioplasty balloon. Thus the filter is downstream from the blockage and is properly positioned to capture embolic particles that may be set loose into the blood stream as the angioplasty procedure is performed. The embolic filter is normally collapsed against the catheter shaft to facilitate introduction and withdrawal of the device to and from the operative site. Once the angioplasty balloon is properly positioned, however, means operatively associated with the embolic filter are actuated to erect the filter to position a filter mesh across the lumen of the vessel.

A device for incising a stenosis in the vasculature of a patient includes a plurality of blades mounted on a resilient base member. The blades are arranged in a pattern to allow for relative movement between adjacent blades. Specifically, at least one end portion of each blade is juxtaposed with an end portion of the next closest blade. The base member, in turn, is mounted on the external surface of an inflatable angioplasty balloon. When the balloon is inserted into the vasculature of a patient, positioned across a stenosis and subsequently inflated, the individually moveable blades form an effective cutting edge that conforms to the surface of the stenosis to effectively allow the stenosis to be incised to a substantially uniform depth.

An angioplasty catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal end, an angioplasty balloon attached to the shaft at the distal end, a balloon inflation lumen extending through the shaft and communicating with the interior of the balloon, a guidewire lumen extending through the shaft and through the balloon for receiving a steerable guidewire, the guidewire lumen having an outside wall, wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal opening located at a point normally outside of the patient during use of the catheter for insertion of a guidewire into the lumen, and a side port adapted to permit passage of a guidewire into the lumen through the outside wall of the guidewire lumen, the side port located distally of the proximal opening and at a point normally inside of the patient during use, and guidewire removing means in the outside wall of the guidewire lumen extending from the proximal opening to the side port for permitting a guidewire in the guidewire lumen to be moved laterally from the guidewire lumen through the outside wall of the guidewire lumen. Also disclosed are a removable “Y” connector and methods for using the catheter and for exchanging catheters and guidewires during vascular catheterization procedures.

Reinforced angioplasty balloon having an external elastic sheath. The elastic sheath maintains, along its length, a substantially uniform circular cross-section during balloon inflation and forces a deflated balloon into a compacted, substantially circular, wingless profile.

A method for treating an occlusion in a coronary artery of a patient includes percutaneously advancing an occlusion treatment tool (such as an angioplasty balloon or stent delivery device) through the vasculature of the patient and into a coronary artery to a site of the occlusion. Following the treatment of the occlusion, a therapeutic agent is admitted into the first coronary artery. The therapeutic agent is selected to treat microvasculature obstructions at a target cardiac tissue site distal to the site of the occlusion.

The invention is a dilation catheter which comprises an elongated catheter shaft, a guide wire tube, and an angioplasty balloon. The distal end of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the guide wire tube, and the proximal portion of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the catheter shaft. A stiffening wire is attached to the inner wall of the catheter shaft at a plurality of points along its length. The distal extremity of the guide wire tube is decreased in size relative to the proximal portion of the guide wire tube. A fluid is contained within the guide wire lumen.

A monitoring system and data archive system for a stent crimping process. The information concerning the crimped stent is used in deciding whether the stent is acceptable for insertion into the body cavity of a human or animal.

Described here are angioplasty balloon devices for generating shock waves to break up calcified plaques along a length of a vessel and methods of making such devices. Generally, the devices may be used in angioplasty and/or valvuloplasty procedures, but may alternatively be used in other applications. In some variations, the device may include an elongate member, a plurality of electrode assemblies, and at least one tubular sleeve interposed between adjacent or neighboring electrode assemblies that form a continuous outer profile between the electrode assemblies. These devices may have a smooth, continuous outer profile without substantial profile transitions and/or may have stiffening sections between electrode assemblies.

A method is described for performing protected angioplasty and stenting of a patient's carotid bifurcation. A self-expanding stent is deployed across a stenosis in the patient's carotid artery. A catheter system that includes a rapid exchange balloon angioplasty catheter with an occlusion balloon catheter positioned through the guidewire lumen is advanced through the guiding catheter and into the distal end of the stent. The occlusion balloon is inflated within the lumen of the stent to occlude the carotid artery and to prevent any embolic debris from traveling downstream from the treatment site. The angioplasty balloon is inflated to dilate the stenosis and to complete the expansion of the self-expanding stent. The angioplasty catheter is withdrawn and any potential embolic debris is aspirated out through the lumen of the guiding catheter. The occlusion balloon is deflated and the catheter system is withdrawn.

Balloon angioplasty catheters having cutting or scoring members that are moveable in at least one direction between a stowed position (away from the angioplasty balloon) and an operative position (on the angioplasty balloon). A balloon catheter of the present invention alternately useable to perform balloon dilation of a body lumen with and without concurrent cutting or scoring.

A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty device includes an embolic filter mounted to the catheter shaft at a location distal to the angioplasty balloon. Thus the filter is downstream from the blockage and is properly positioned to capture embolic particles that may be set loose into the blood stream as the angioplasty procedure is performed. The embolic filter is normally collapsed against the catheter shaft to facilitate introduction and withdrawal of the device to and from the operative site. Once the angioplasty balloon is properly positioned, however, means operatively associated with the embolic filter are actuated to erect the filter to position a filter mesh across the lumen of the vessel.

A catheter configured for performing reperfusion by alternatively occluding a vessel so as to prevent fluid flow and removing that occlusion to allow fluid flow is described. A first catheter includes an outer member and a retractable valve to allow and prevent fluid flow in the vessel. A second catheter includes a sheathed expansion member that can be deployed and recaptured to prevent and allow, respectively, fluid flow. A third catheter includes an angioplasty balloon to open a vessel occlusion, in which an occlusion balloon is used to allow and disallow fluid flow. A fourth catheter includes an expandable member for providing mechanical plunging action to urge thrombotic material to a more distal location. A fifth catheter includes an accessory catheter that can be used to perform reperfusion with another catheter. A sixth catheter includes an inner balloon within an outer balloon configured to perform reperfusion.