Importance

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Abstract

A catheter for treating an obstructed blood vessel comprises an elongated tubular body having an internal lumen, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and includes an inflatable dilatation element on the distal portion thereof. The dilatation element is in communication with the lumen and is adapted to be inflatable and deflatable by the application of a suitable therapeutic tissue dissolving fluid pressurized within the lumen. The dilatation element includes a wall having microporus openings adapted to be permeable by the fluid applied to inflate the dilatation element. The fluid, which is pumped into the interior space of the dilatation element, under sufficient pressure, presses through the microporus wall directly on and into the adjacnet tissue. The fluid tends to dissolve the tissue, thereby treatment time is considerably shortened and the long-term success of the treatment is improved, since the impairing tissue is not only dislodged but also dissolved from the vessel.

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First Claim