Catheter system with balloon-mounted plaque-modifying elements

A plaque-modifying catheter system comprising:

• a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and an intermediate section therebetween;
• an inner lumen between the proximal and distal ends through which a medical device or fluid may pass without interruption or interference;
• an expandable balloon located between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter and circumscribing at least the intermediate section of the catheter, the balloon receiving a pressurizing fluid between the catheter and the balloon which causes the balloon to inflate, the balloon having an outer surface;
• and
• an assembly of plaque-modifying elements mounted on at least a part of the outer surface of the balloon, wherein the plaque-modifying elements are separated from each other before, during, and after balloon expansion, thereby creating an array of weakened areas in a vessel wall when the plaque-modifying elements are urged into contact with the vessel wall by the pressurizing fluid inflating the outer surface of the balloon and the plaque-modifying elements impinging on the vessel wall, thereby fracturing hardened tissue and creating the weakened areas therein, at least some of the plaque-modifying elements having a tip situated atop a plaque-modifying element, the tip having a cross section geometry selected from the group consisting of, an oval, a circle, a dome, an ellipse, an “x” shape, a star shape and a “y” shape.