Wedge dissectors for a medical balloon
Inventors
Giasolli, Robert M. • Schneider, Peter • Johansson, Peter
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11266818-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.
Core Innovation
The document describes a medical balloon catheter for angioplasty that includes an elongate member defining an inner lumen and a longitudinal axis, with an expandable balloon connected at a distal end. The expandable balloon carries a circumferential arrangement of a plurality of strips extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the expandable balloon, and each strip includes a plurality of wedge dissectors spaced apart along a surface of each strip.
Each wedge dissector has a length longitudinally along the strip and a width transverse to the length, forming an unhoned radially outward facing surface that extends longitudinally between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The wedge dissector also includes a height extending from a surface of the strip to the unhoned radially outward facing surface, with a first width and first height at the proximal edge, a second width and second height between the proximal edge and the distal edge, and a third width and third height at the distal edge, where the second width is less than the first width.
The wedge dissector geometry further varies along a taper profile, where the width gradually decreases from the first width to the second width and then gradually increases from the second width to the third width. The height varies along a symmetric curve by gradually increasing from the first height to the second height and gradually decreasing from the second height to the third height.
Additional disclosure describes using these wedge dissectors, including spikes and radially outward microperforations, to weaken plaque via cleavage planes while reducing vessel trauma, and to provide pathways or reservoirs for therapeutic agent delivery through channels or reliefs.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a medical balloon catheter with spaced wedge dissectors on longitudinal strips, where each wedge dissector has an unhoned radially outward facing surface with specified proximal, middle, and distal width and height relationships and a symmetric taper and curve geometry. The claim set also includes dependent limitations relating to microperforations and cleavage lines or planes.
Medical balloon catheter with expandable balloon carrying longitudinal strips
An elongate member defines an inner lumen and a longitudinal axis, an expandable balloon is connected at a distal end of the elongate member, and a plurality of strips extend longitudinally along an outer surface of the expandable balloon, each strip including a plurality of wedge dissectors spaced apart along a surface of each strip.
Wedge dissectors with unhoned radially outward facing surface geometry
Each wedge dissector includes a length along the strip, a width transverse to the length, and forms an unhoned radially outward facing surface extending longitudinally between a proximal edge and a distal edge, with a height extending from a surface of the strip to the unhoned radially outward facing surface.
Tapered and symmetric width and height variation of the unhoned surface
The unhoned radially outward facing surface has a first width and first height at the proximal edge, a second width and second height between the proximal edge and the distal edge, and a third width and third height at the distal edge, where the second width is less than the first width; the width gradually decreases from the first width to the second width and gradually increases from the second width to the third width, and the height gradually increases from the first height to the second height and gradually decreases from the second height to the third height.
Across the independent claim and dependent limitations, the inventive coverage centers on an expandable balloon with longitudinal strips carrying spaced wedge dissectors, where the unhoned radially outward facing surface has explicitly defined proximal, middle, and distal width and height relationships and specific gradual width and symmetric height variation. Dependent claims further narrow the arrangement and plaque-interaction features, including microperforations and cleavage lines or planes.
Stated Advantages
Enables microperforations in a radially outward direction that form cleavage lines or planes in the plaque.
Weakens plaque via cleavage planes while reducing vessel trauma.
Documented Applications
Plaque treatment at a treatment site using microperforations and cutting actions associated with wedge dissectors to weaken plaque via cleavage planes.
Delivery of therapeutic agent through channels or reliefs.
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