The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2003
Dennis M. Vigil, San Diego, CA (US);
Dennis M. Vigil, San Diego, CA (US);
Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
A sheath is provided to protect a blade when the blade is mounted on a balloon catheter. In particular, this protection is provided while the balloon is deflated for maneuver of the catheter through the vasculature of a patient. The sheath itself is a tubular shaped member that is bifurcated into substantially symmetric halves. Further, the sheath forms a channel for protecting the blade when its halves are juxtaposed. An adhesive bonds both halves of the sheath to the surface of the balloon. When the balloon is deflated, its halves are juxtaposed to cover the blade in the protective channel. On the other hand, when the balloon is inflated, the expanded surface of the balloon pulls the opposed sheath halves that are bonded to it from each other, to thereby expose the blade.