# US 2026/0096830 A1 · Universal scoring catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0096830 A1 - Document ID: US20260096830A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/110,420 - Filed: 2022-09-08 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-08 - Assignees: Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. - Applicants: Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. - Inventors: Andrzej J. Chanduszko; Matthew R. Casiraro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260096830A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/0082: {Catheter tip comprising a tool} - A61M 25/0074: {Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable} - A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty} - A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00778: {Operations on blood vessels (A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence)} - A61M 2025/0096: {being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres} - A61M 2025/109: {having balloons for removing solid matters, e.g. by grasping or scraping plaque, thrombus or other matters that obstruct the flow} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An apparatus for performing a medical procedure on a structure, such as a lesion, in a vessel. The apparatus includes a catheter shaft having a frangible portion with a scoring element adapted for scoring the lesion when the frangible portion is broken. An expandable element, such as an inflatable balloon, may be provided for breaking the frangible portion, which then allows the scoring element to move radially outwardly toward the structure or lesion in the vessel. Related methods are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for scoring a lesion in a vessel, comprising: a catheter shaft comprising a frangible portion including a scoring element adapted for advancing radially outwardly for scoring the lesion when the frangible portion is broken. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frangible portion comprises perforations arranged on either side of the scoring element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scoring element comprises one or more beads, blades, serrations, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft comprises a plurality of frangible portions circumferentially spaced around the catheter shaft, each associated with a scoring element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each frangible portion comprises longitudinal perforations arranged on either side of the scoring element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scoring element has a length in a longitudinal direction equal to or less than a length of the frangible portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frangible portion comprises a radially depressed portion of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including an expandable element within the catheter shaft for breaking the frangible portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the expandable element comprises a balloon. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for scoring a lesion in a vessel, comprising: a catheter shaft including an expandable portion adapted for scoring the lesion, the catheter shaft including a plurality of perforations forming the expandable portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the expandable portion of the catheter shaft includes a scoring element, and the plurality of perforations comprise perforations located on either side of the scoring element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the scoring element comprises one or more beads, blades, serrations, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the expandable portion comprises a depressed portion of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein catheter shaft includes a plurality of scoring elements, and the plurality of perforations comprise perforations located on either side of the depressed portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further including a balloon catheter adapted to be inserted into the catheter shaft, whereby expansion of the balloon serves to partially break the expandable portion from the catheter shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the balloon has a length equal to or less than a length of the expandable portion. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for scoring a lesion in a vessel, comprising: a catheter shaft including a depressed portion having a scoring element adapted for scoring the lesion when the depressed portion is urged radially outwardly to a deployed position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the depressed portion further comprises a frangible portion of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further including an expandable element within the shaft for breaking the frangible portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the expandable element comprises a balloon catheter. ### Claim at position 21 21-26. (canceled)