Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for incising stenotic segments, mountable over an inflatable angioplasty balloon, which comprises: at least one elongated flexible panel, said panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting blade having an edge, said cutting blade mounted on said outer surface of said elongated flexible panel with said edge of said cutting blade projecting away from said outer surface of said elongated flexible panel; a first circular band attached to said proximal end of each said elongated flexible panel; and a second circular band attached to said distal end of each said elongated flexible panel, said first circular band and said second circular band being positionable to retain said inner surface of each said elongated flexible panel against said angioplasty balloon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for incising stenotic segments, mountable over an inflatable angioplasty balloon, which comprises: at least one elongated flexible panel, said panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting blade having an edge, said cutting blade mounted on said outer surface of said elongated flexible panel with said edge of said cutting blade projecting away from said outer surface of said elongated flexible panel; a first circular band attached to said proximal end of each said elongated flexible panel; and a second circular band attached to said distal end of each said elongated flexible panel, said first circular band and said second circular band being positionable to retain said inner surface of each said elongated flexible panel against said angioplasty balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade further comprises: a proximal end, said proximal end of said cutting blade being separated a first predetermined distance from said proximal end of said elongated flexible panel; and a distal end, said distal end of said cutting blade being separated a second predetermined distance from said distal end of said elongated flexible panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first predetermined distance and said second predetermined distance are substantially equal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said angioplasty balloon has a radius when inflated and said first predetermined distance is approximately equal to twice said inflated radius of said inflatable angioplasty balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is made of stainless steel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is made of cobalt nickel steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is made of a ceramic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is made of a glass material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible panel is made of dacron fiber and urethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible panel is made of a spring-like material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first circular band is formed from an elastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first circular band and said second circular band are formed from an elastic material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
140 words
A device for incising stenotic segments, comprising: a balloon moveable between a collapsed configuration and an inflated configuration; a plurality of elongated flexible panels, each said panel having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of cutting means, each said cutting means being firmly attached to said outer surface of a respective said elongated flexible panel; and a retaining means for collectively securing said plurality of elongated flexible panels to said balloon with said cutting means projecting radically away from said balloon and for movement therewith, to incise said stenotic segments when said balloon is in said inflated configuration wherein said retaining means comprises a first circular band attached to said proximal end of each said elongated flexible panel and a second circular band attached to said distal end of each said elongated flexible panel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
140 words
A device for incising stenotic segments, comprising: a balloon moveable between a collapsed configuration and an inflated configuration; a plurality of elongated flexible panels, each said panel having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of cutting means, each said cutting means being firmly attached to said outer surface of a respective said elongated flexible panel; and a retaining means for collectively securing said plurality of elongated flexible panels to said balloon with said cutting means projecting radically away from said balloon and for movement therewith, to incise said stenotic segments when said balloon is in said inflated configuration wherein said retaining means comprises a first circular band attached to said proximal end of each said elongated flexible panel and a second circular band attached to said distal end of each said elongated flexible panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said cutting means further comprises at least one cutting blade, said cutting blade having a cutting edge and a base, said base being firmly attached to said outer surface of said elongated flexible panel, and in substantial alignment therewith, to hold said cutting edge away from said elongated flexible panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said first circular band is made of an elastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 15, wherein said second circular band is made of an elastic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said first and second circular bands are made of a rigid material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said retaining means further comprises a pair of rigid circular clamps, one said clamp attached to said proximal end of said elongated flexible panel, and one said clamp attached to said distal end of said elongated flexible panel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for operating a cutting device with an angioplasty balloon to incise and dilate a stenotic segment in a vessel, wherein the cutting device includes a plurality of elongated flexible panels with each panel having a proximal end and a distal end and a cutting blade mounted thereon, and wherein the proximal and distal ends of each flexible panel are respectively attached to a proximal band and a distal band, the method comprising the steps of: positioning said proximal band and said distal band of said cutting device to straddle said balloon with said panels retained therebetween against said balloon and with said cutting blades projecting away from said balloon; and inflating said balloon to move said flexible panels and said cutting blades therewith for incising and dilating the stenotic segment as said balloon is inflated.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for operating a cutting device with an angioplasty balloon to incise and dilate a stenotic segment in a vessel, wherein the cutting device includes a plurality of elongated flexible panels with each panel having a proximal end and a distal end and a cutting blade mounted thereon, and wherein the proximal and distal ends of each flexible panel are respectively attached to a proximal band and a distal band, the method comprising the steps of: positioning said proximal band and said distal band of said cutting device to straddle said balloon with said panels retained therebetween against said balloon and with said cutting blades projecting away from said balloon; and inflating said balloon to move said flexible panels and said cutting blades therewith for incising and dilating the stenotic segment as said balloon is inflated.