Device and method for converting a balloon catheter into a cutting balloon catheter

1. A lesion treating device for use with an intraluminal device having an expandable member, comprising:

a longitudinal housing operable to be inserted into a lumen of an intraluminal device having an expandable member; and

a wire coupled to the longitudinal housing, the wire having an undeployed position and a deployed position wherein the wire extends outside of the longitudinal housing to be positioned between an inner wall of a body lumen and the expandable member of the intraluminal device;

wherein:

the longitudinal housing includes an opening in its sidewall; and

when the longitudinal housing is longitudinally moved with respect to the wire, a first end of the wire extends from and proximally past the opening into the deployed position.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a shaft positioned inside the longitudinal housing and attached to a second end of the wire, wherein the wire in the undeployed position is disposed fully inside the exterior surface of the longitudinal housing.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein when the longitudinal housing is longitudinally moved while the shaft is held stationary, the first end of the wire extends through the opening into the deployed position without moving longitudinally.

4. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide disposed within the longitudinal housing and having a guide channel in communication with the opening, the guide channel guiding the wire when the wire is being extended out of the opening.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the wire includes a longitudinal blade having a cutting edge that points toward a body lumen wall when the wire is extended into the deployed position.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the wire contains no cutting edge.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein when the longitudinal housing is proximally moved with respect to the wire, the wire is retracted through the opening into the undeployed position.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the lesion treating device has a predetermined curve profile.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the wire is pre-shaped to conform to the deployed position.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the longitudinal housing is 0.035 inches or lower.

11. A lesion treating device for use with a balloon catheter, comprising:

a longitudinal housing operable to be inserted into a lumen of a balloon catheter, the longitudinal housing having at least one opening in a sidewall; and

at least one wire positioned within the longitudinal housing in an undeployed position;

wherein when the longitudinal housing moves with respect to the at least one wire, one end of the at least one wire extends out from the longitudinal housing through the at least one opening and extends from and proximally past the opening to be positioned between an inner wall of a body lumen and the balloon catheter.

12. The device according to claim 9 , wherein:

the at least one opening includes a plurality of spaced apart openings in the sidewall;

the at least one wire includes a plurality of wires each having a first end and a second end; and

the first ends of the wires are fixed relative to each other.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein when the longitudinal housing is longitudinally moved with respect to the wires, the second ends of the wires extend through the corresponding openings into the deployed position.

14. The device according to claim 12 , further comprising a shaft disposed inside the longitudinal housing and attached to the first ends of the wires.

15. The device according to claim 14 further comprising a handle attached to a proximal end of the shaft, wherein when the longitudinal housing moves longitudinally relative to the handle, the wires extend out from the longitudinal housing into the deployed position.

16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein when the longitudinal housing is proximally moved with respect to the shaft, the wires are retracted through the corresponding openings into the undeployed position.

17. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising a guide disposed within the longitudinal housing and having at least one guide channel in communication with the opening, the guide channel guiding the wire when the wire is being extended out of the opening.

18. The device according to claim 11 , wherein each wire includes a cutting edge that points toward a body lumen wall when extended and an opposite surface designed to contact the balloon.

19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the width to height of the wire is greater than or equal to 1.

20. A lesion treating device comprising:

a longitudinal housing sized to be inserted into a lumen of a balloon catheter, the longitudinal housing having at least one opening in a sidewall;

a shaft disposed inside the longitudinal housing; and

at least one wire having a first end attached to the shaft and being disposed within the longitudinal housing in an undeployed position;

wherein when the longitudinal housing is moved relative to the shaft, a second end of the at least one wire extends out from the opening and extends from and proximally past the opening into a deployed position to be disposed between an inner wall of a body lumen and a balloon of the balloon catheter.

21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the first end of the at least one wire is positioned distally of the second end.

22. A lesion treating device for use with an intraluminal device having an expandable member, comprising:

a longitudinal housing operable to be inserted into a lumen of an intraluminal device having an expandable member; and

a wire coupled to the longitudinal housing, the wire having an undeployed position and a deployed position wherein the wire extends outside of the longitudinal housing to be positioned between an inner wall of a body lumen and the expandable member of the intraluminal device;

wherein:

the longitudinal housing includes an opening in its sidewall;

when the longitudinal housing is longitudinally moved with respect to the wire, a first end of the wire extends from and proximally past the opening into the deployed position; and

when the longitudinal housing is proximally moved with respect to the wire, the wire is retracted through the opening into the undeployed position.

23. The device according to claim 22 , wherein a distal portion of the lesion treating device has a predetermined curve profile.

24. A lesion treating device for use with a balloon catheter, comprising:

a longitudinal housing operable to be inserted into a lumen of a balloon catheter, the longitudinal housing having at least one opening in a sidewall; and

at least one wire positioned within the longitudinal housing in an undeployed position;

wherein when the longitudinal housing moves with respect to the at least one wire, one end of the at least one wire extends out from the longitudinal housing through and proximally past the at least one opening to be positioned between an inner wall of a body lumen and the balloon catheter;

wherein:

the at least one opening includes a plurality of spaced apart openings in the sidewall;

the at least one wire includes a plurality of wires each having a first end and a second end; and

the first ends of the wires are fixed relative to each other;

a shaft disposed inside the longitudinal housing and attached to the first ends of the wires;

wherein when the longitudinal housing is proximally moved with respect to the shaft, the wires are retracted through the corresponding openings into the undeployed position.

25. The device according to claim 24 , further comprising a guide disposed within the longitudinal housing and having at least one guide channel in communication with the opening, the guide channel guiding the wire when the wire is being extended out of the opening.

26. The device according to claim 24 , wherein each wire includes a cutting edge that points toward a body lumen wall when extended and an opposite surface designed to contact the balloon.

27. The device according to claim 26 , wherein the ratio of the width to height of the wire is greater than or equal to 1.