Angioplasty of calcified arteries

A balloon catheter comprising:

• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the catheter;
• a flexible outer structure disposed over the balloon configured to localise outward force of the balloon, when inflated, to only a portion of the balloon external surface.

A catheter pump for pressurizing a lumen of a catheter, the pump comprising:

• a pressure pump having an outlet for coupling, in use, to a proximal end of a catheter and configured for pressurization of the catheter by the application of a baseline pressure to the outlet;
• a pressure modulation source, coupled to the outlet, configured to modulate the baseline pressure at the outlet with one or more pressure impulses.

A method of delivery of an endoluminal device to a vessel comprising:

• inserting a balloon catheter into the vessel;
• inflating the balloon, with a pressure pump, to a baseline pressure facilitating engagement of the balloon with deposited material on an internal wall of the vessel;
• applying a dynamic pressure modulation to the baseline pressure in the balloon so as to deliver pressure pulses to the surface of the balloon and thereby to the deposited material, to cause break-up, disruption or disintegration of deposited material on the internal wall of the vessel.

A method of breaking up, disrupting or disintegrating calcified or other hardened material within vessels of the human or animal body comprising transmitting percussive forces along a catheter lumen by pressure modulation of a baseline pressure of a fluid within a lumen of the catheter.