Patent attributes
A sheath is provided to protect a blade when the blade is mounted on a balloon catheter. In particular, this protection is provided while the balloon is deflated for maneuver of the catheter through the vasculature of a patient. The sheath itself is a tubular shaped member that is bifurcated into substantially symmetric halves. Further, the sheath forms a channel for protecting the blade when its halves are juxtaposed. An adhesive bonds both halves of the sheath to the surface of the balloon. When the balloon is deflated, its halves are juxtaposed to cover the blade in the protective channel. On the other hand, when the balloon is inflated, the expanded surface of the balloon pulls the opposed sheath halves that are bonded to it from each other, to thereby expose the blade.
