Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A catheter for balloon angioplasty includes a flexible shaft (12) defining a hollow passage (18), the shaft having first (14) and second (16) ends. A core means (20) is movably and removably mounted within the hollow passage, the core means having first and second ends adjacent the first and second ends of the shaft. The core means has a first flexible portion (26) adjacent the first end and a second flexible portion (28) of greater flexibility adjacent the second end. The core means may also have an enlarged terminal knob (30) at the second end. A flexible guide wire (32) may be fixed to the second end of either the shaft or the core means. The catheter may be inserted into a vascular tree. After removal of the core means, the core means may be replaced by an exchange wire, an angioscope, a laser fiber, or a rotatable wire. Also, when the core means is replaced by an exchange wire, the shaft may then be removed and replaced by either a different balloon angioplasty catheter or a perfusion catheter.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim