Patent attributes
A directional cutting balloon for incising an eccentric lesion in a body conduit includes an inflatable balloon having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal balloon end is attached to a distal tube and the proximal balloon end is attached to a proximal tube. The distal tube is formed with a guidewire lumen and substantially centered along a guidewire axis. The balloon, which is typically formed with a cylindrical working section that defines a balloon axis, is offset from the guidewire axis. Specifically, when the balloon is inflated, the balloon axis is aligned parallel to and offset from the guidewire axis. One or more elongated incising elements are mounted longitudinally on the balloon. During a balloon inflation, the balloon expands eccentrically relative to the guidewire axis to thereby advance the incising element in a pre-selected direction and into an eccentric lesion.
