Balloon catheter with lithotripsy amplification system
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorElizabeth A Eaton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intraluminal scoring system for expanding an opening within an intraluminal passage includes a balloon catheter which is positioned alongside plaque lining a wall of the intraluminal passage. A wire is positioned between the balloon and the plaque so that the inflation of the balloon restricts the wire between the balloon and the plaque. After the balloon is inflated, a mechanical vibration is induced in the proximal end of the wire by a lithotripter actuator. The vibration travels through the wire to the distal portion, causing the wire to impact the plaque lining the wall of the passage causing scoring, compression, or fragmentation of the plaque.
Claims21
An intraluminal scoring system comprising:
- a balloon comprising an outer surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, wherein the proximal and distal portions are attached to a catheter, and wherein the outer surface inflates radially from the catheter;
- a wire comprising proximal and distal portions, wherein the distal portion of the wire extends along the outer surface of the balloon;
- a scoring element comprising a contacting surface directly secured to the outer surface of the balloon, wherein the distal portion of the wire is enclosed within the scoring element, and the distal portion of the wire comprises a projection extending radially through an opening on the scoring element;
- and
- a lithotripter coupled to the proximal portion of the wire, wherein the lithotripter may be activated to transmit mechanical energy from the lithotripter, through the wire to vibrate the distal portion of the wire.
A method of scoring an intraluminal passage, comprising:
- positioning a scoring device in an intraluminal passage, wherein the scoring device comprises:
- a catheter;
- a balloon attached to the catheter, wherein the balloon has an outer surface which can be inflated radially from the catheter, and a scoring element comprising a contacting surface directly secured to an outer surface of the balloon;
- a wire comprising proximal and distal portions, wherein the distal portion of the wire is enclosed within the scoring element, and the distal portion of the wire comprises a projection extending radially through an opening on the scoring element, and
- a lithotripter comprising an energy source, wherein the proximal portion of the wire is coupled to the lithotripter;
- positioning the balloon at a treatment site in a deflated state;
- inflating the balloon, thereby constraining the wire between the balloon and a wall of the intraluminal passage;
- actuating the lithotripter, thereby transmitting mechanical energy from the lithotripter through the wire in response to the actuation;
- and
- impacting plaque lining the wall of the intraluminal passage with the scoring element in response to the mechanical energy transmitted from the lithotripter.
An intraluminal scoring system comprising:
- a balloon comprising an outer surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, and a scoring element coupled to the outer surface of the balloon, wherein the proximal and distal portions are attached to a catheter, and the outer surface inflates radially from the catheter;
- a wire comprising proximal and distal portions, wherein the distal portion of the wire comprises a projection extending radially through an opening on the scoring element;
- and
- a lithotripter coupled to the proximal portion of the wire, the lithotripter comprising a gas cartridge, wherein discharge of the gas cartridge transmits a vibration through the wire to the distal portion of the wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.