FIELD: medicine.
SUBSTANCE: group of inventions refers to a catheter assembly and a method of treating an arterial plaque. Catheter assembly for treating plaques comprises a first catheter tube and a second catheter tube. First catheter tube has inner and outer diameters and is configured to be inserted into vascular network. Second catheter tube has inner and outer diameters. Outer diameter of the second catheter tube is smaller than that of the first catheter tube. Second catheter tube is movable within and outside the first catheter tube. Second catheter tube has a distal portion comprising one or more plaque treatment sections on the outer surface of the second catheter tube. Entire second catheter tube or part of the second catheter tube, comprising one or more plaque treatment sections, is configured to expand outward in response to the action of the outer surface of the expandable member. Expandable member is movable within and outside the inner diameter of the second catheter tube, when it is in compressed state. Method of treating the arterial plaque involves a stage of treating one or more arterial plaques using a plaques treatment section of a second catheter tube of the above catheter assembly for treating plaques. Inventions provide advantages compared to other known catheter systems of this field of technology in terms of ease of use, versatility and efficiency.
EFFECT: unique design of the assembly facilitates the treatment of plaques, especially in the presence of several sites in the artery in need of treatment; further, the present invention can also minimize the movement of the device in the patient and outside the patient; for example, the present invention enables separate double coupling (with a plaque treatment section) with an expandable element (exempli gratia, with a balloon catheter), that can be used for treating plaques without introducing multiple devices into an artery; this, in turn, can provide improved levels of safety for the patient.
24 cl, 12 dwg
