Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for opening an osbstucted tubular passageway in the human body. A first catheter having a distal end dimensioned to pass freely along a tubular passageway is guided to the obstruction. A proximal end of the first catheter is adapted to extend outside the human body and is coupled to a source of coherent radiation. Coherent radiation is transmitted from the source to the distal end of the first catheter to permit the coherent radiation to be directed against the obstruction to bore a passageway through the obstruction. After a passageway has been bored through the obstruction, the first catheter is removed from the tubular passageway. A second catheter having a distal end dimensioned to pass freely along the tubular passageway, a proximal end adapted to extend outside the human body, and a peripheral elastic expandable zone spaced from the distal end is guided into the passageway through the obstruction. The expandable zone of the second catheter is expanded to increase the passageway through the obstruction. The second catheter is then removed from the tubular passageway.

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First Claim