US Patent:
20040143287, Jul 22, 2004
Inventors:
Eitan Konstantino - Orinda CA, US
Tanhum Feld - Merhavya, IL
Nimrod Tzori - Sunnyvale CA, US
Assignee:
AngioScore, Inc. - Oakland CA
International Classification:
A61M029/00
Abstract:
A plaque scoring catheter comprises a catheter body having a balloon or other radially expansible shell at its distal end. A non-axial scoring structure is carried over the shell and scores a stenosed region in a blood vessel when the balloon is inflated therein. The non-axial scoring structure may be formed directly on the balloon or may alternatively be part of a cage structure which floats over the balloon. Exemplary configurations for the scoring structure include helical, serpentine, and irregular.