Medical balloon catheters with enhanced pushability

Abstract

Systems and methods can involve wedge dissectors attached to strips in turn attached to medical balloons, for forming serrations within vascular wall tissue for angioplasty as well as drug delivery.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A medical balloon catheter comprising:
 an elongate member comprising a lumen, the elongate member defining a longitudinal axis;   a first expandable balloon connected to the elongate member proximate a distal end of the elongate member;   a plurality of strips, each strip of the plurality of strips including a plurality of wedge dissectors spaced apart along a surface of each strip, each strip extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the first expandable balloon,   wherein each wedge dissector forms a radially outward facing surface,   a second expandable balloon covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the first expandable balloon.   
     
     
         16 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon covers the plurality of wedge dissectors. 
     
     
         17 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a length of the second expandable balloon is greater than a length of the first expandable balloon. 
     
     
         18 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the second expandable balloon is greater than a diameter of the first expandable balloon. 
     
     
         19 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the second expandable balloon is greater than a thickness of the first expandable balloon. 
     
     
         20 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein an angle of cone of an end of the second expandable balloon is different than an angle of cone of an end of the first expandable balloon. 
     
     
         21 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the first expandable balloon is configured to be inflated inside the second expandable balloon. 
     
     
         22 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the first expandable balloon is configured to be pleated before insertion inside the second expandable balloon. 
     
     
         23 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon provides a uniform outer layer over the plurality of strips. 
     
     
         24 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , further comprising an adhesive between the first expandable balloon and the second expandable balloon. 
     
     
         25 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of wedge dissectors rise above the second expandable balloon. 
     
     
         26 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the first expandable balloon and the second expandable balloon are selectively bonded. 
     
     
         27 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the first expandable balloon and the second expandable balloon are bonded into a single unit. 
     
     
         28 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon provides a precise control of thickness. 
     
     
         29 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon provides increase retention of the plurality of strips. 
     
     
         30 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon comprises an extrudable material. 
     
     
         31 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon comprises a more stretchable or pliable material than the first expandable balloon. 
     
     
         32 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein each wedge dissector forms a radially outward facing surface, wherein the radially outward facing surface is unhoned. 
     
     
         33 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon comprises more than one material. 
     
     
         34 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the second expandable balloon comprises more than one layer. 
     
     
         35 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the first expandable balloon is greater than a thickness of the second expandable balloon. 
     
     
         36 . The medical catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a dimension of the second expandable balloon is the same as a dimension the first expandable balloon.