An angioplasty balloon (1) comprises an elongate tube (16) having a relaxed delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The elongate tube (16) comprises a proximal neck portion (10), a distal neck portion (8), a main body region, a tapered proximal portion (11) extending between the main body region and the proximal neck portion (10); and a tapered distal portion (9) extending between the main body region (3) and the distal neck portion (8), the elongate tube has only three fins (4, 5, 6) which are integrally formed with the tube and which are spaced equidistant from one another about the exterior of the tube. The fins (4, 5, 6) project radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the tube and the fins (4, 5, 6) extending longitudinally only along part of the main body region (3), resulting in the end-sections of the balloon main body being fin-free.

Provided is a balloon catheter wherein a balloon is less likely to swell in the protective tube during an air leak test of the balloon in a state where the balloon having projecting portions is housed in a lumen of the protective tube. A balloon catheter comprising: a shaft extending in a distal-proximal direction; a balloon disposed on a distal side of the shaft and having, in a contracted state, a plurality of wing-shaped portions; projecting portions each disposed on a portion, of an outer surface of the balloon, that is none of the wing-shaped portions; and a protective tube having a lumen in which the balloon is disposed, wherein none of the wing-shaped portions is present between an apex of each projecting portion and a point, on an inner surface of the protective tube, that is at a shortest distance from the apex of the projecting portion.

A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.

An overtube assembly for use with an elongate medical tool includes an overtube including a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and distal end. The flexible tubular body includes a split extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The overtube assembly further includes an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal portion of the flexible tubular body. The flexible tubular body is disposable over a section of the elongate medical tool by inserting the elongate medical tool through the split.

Provided are an apparatus for acquiring biological data and an apparatus for processing biological data. The apparatus for being inserted into a living body and acquiring biological information includes a balloon inserted into the living body to expand or contract, one or more electrodes disposed on a surface of the balloon, and one or more fine protrusions disposed on surfaces of the electrodes to come into contact with the living body.

A catheter is advanced to a treatment site proximate a lesion, the catheter including a plurality of traction elements and an inflatable balloon adapted to urge the plurality of traction elements radially outwardly when the inflatable balloon is inflated. The inflatable balloon is inflated to urge the plurality of traction elements radially outwardly into contact with the lesion with the distal region at a first rotational orientation. The inflatable balloon is deflated and the proximal region of the catheter is rotated in order to rotate the distal region to a second rotational orientation different from the first rotational orientation. The inflatable balloon is inflated to again urge the plurality of traction elements radially outwardly into contact with the lesion. The catheter is adapted to provide a substantially one-to-one rotational arrangement between the proximal region and the distal region.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

An exoskeleton device is capable of being positioned over an expandable instrument, such as a balloon catheter. The exoskeleton device may include an expandable section that receives an expander of the expandable instrument. Expansion of the expander may cause the expandable section of the exoskeleton device to expand and force the expandable section of the exoskeleton device against a surface to be treated. The expandable section may be capable of scoring the surface against which it is forced.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.