Intravascular catheter with incising devices

1. An intravascular catheter device for the treatment of atherosclerotic material located within a blood vessel, said intravascular catheter device comprising:

a flexible catheter tube;

an expandable portion secured to a distal end of said catheter tube and comprising a plurality of struts each having an outer surface, the expandable portion being operable between a collapsed position, wherein the expandable portion has a first diameter, and an expanded position, wherein the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter;

an inner sleeve disposed within the catheter tube wherein said inner sleeve is configured for sliding movement within the catheter tube to effectuate movement of said expandable portion between said collapsed position and said expanded position, and wherein said inner sleeve is configured to accommodate a guide wire; and

an incising element provided at, and extending from, the outer surface of at least one of the struts, the incising element having a sharpened edge;

wherein said incising element is configured to extend along a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the collapsed position and is configured to incise atherosclerotic material located in the blood vessel and create microparticles of the atherosclerotic material for reabsorption into the blood vessel when the expandable portion is located in the expanded position.

2. The intravascular catheter device of claim 1 wherein:

the sharpened edge is located along an upper edge of the incising element and extends along the outer surface of the strut.

3. The intravascular catheter device of claim 2 wherein:

the incising element extends along a longitudinal axis of the blood vessel.

4. The intravascular catheter device of claim 2 wherein:

the incising element extends along a midline of the strut; and

the incising element extends outward from the outer surface of the strut.

5. The intravascular catheter device of claim 4 wherein:

the incising element extends along a proximal half of the at least one strut.

6. The intravascular catheter device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tip member attached to the inner sleeve and the expandable portion to effectuate movement of the struts between the collapsed position and the expanded position when the tip member is extended or retracted relative to the catheter tube by way of the inner sleeve.

7. The intravascular catheter device of claim 6 further comprising:

a handle assembly secured to a proximal end of the catheter tube; and

a control member that is moveably supported on the handle assembly and in communication with the inner sleeve, wherein said control member is configured to control movement of the expandable portion between the collapsed and the expanded position by way of the inner sleeve.

8. The intravascular catheter device of claim 1 wherein:

the incising element extends along a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the expanded position.

9. The intravascular catheter device of claim 1 further comprising:

a sheath supported for sliding movement between a retracted position where said incising elements are exposed, and an advanced position where said sheath is disposed about said expandable portion such that material deposited on said incising element is captured, and wherein the sheath, and any captured material deposits, is adapted to be removed from the blood vessel.

10. The intravascular catheter device of claim 1 wherein:

the incising elements are configured to create incisions which break the surface tension in the atherosclerotic material and create luminal gain.

11. An intravascular catheter device for the treatment of atherosclerotic material located within a blood vessel, said intravascular catheter device comprising:

a handle assembly;

a flexible catheter tube having a proximal end secured to said handle assembly;

an expandable portion secured to a distal end of said catheter tube comprising a plurality of struts each defining an outward facing surface and being operable between a collapsed position, wherein the expandable portion has a first diameter, and an expanded position, wherein the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter;

an incising element extending along a midline of, and outwardly from, the outward facing surface of at least one of the struts;

a sharpened edge positioned along an upper edge of said incising element, wherein said sharpened edge extends along a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the collapsed position, and wherein said sharpened edge is configured to incise the atherosclerotic material when the expandable portion is placed in the expanded position; and

a flexible inner sleeve disposed within the catheter tube and supported for sliding movement within the catheter tube to cause movement of said expandable portion between said collapsed position and said expanded position;

wherein said sharpened edge is configured to generate microparticles of the atherosclerotic material when incising said atherosclerotic material.

12. The intravascular catheter device of claim 11 wherein:

the incising element extends along a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the expanded position.

13. The intravascular catheter device of claim 11 further comprising:

a tip member attached to the inner sleeve and the expandable portion so as to move the struts between the collapsed position and the expanded position when the tip member is extended or retracted relative to the catheter tube, wherein said tip member and said flexible inner sleeve are configured to accommodate the guide wire; and

a control member located on the handle assembly and configured to facilitate the sliding movement of the inner sleeve.

14. The intravascular catheter device of claim 13 further comprising:

a sheath supported for sliding movement along an outer surface of the catheter tube, the sheath being operable between an opened position where said incising members are exposed, and a closed position where said sheath covers said expandable portion, wherein said sheath is configured to trap any material deposited on said incising element when said sheath is placed in the closed position.

15. The intravascular catheter device of claim 11 wherein:

said sharpened edge extends outwardly from the outer surface of the strut.

16. The intravascular catheter device of claim 11 wherein:

the struts are biased in the expanded position.

17. The intravascular catheter device of claim 11 wherein:

the incising elements are configured to create incisions which break the surface tension in the atherosclerotic material and create luminal gain.

18. A method for the treatment of atherosclerotic material at a zone of attention located within a blood vessel comprising the steps of:

providing an intravascular device comprising:

a flexible catheter tube;

an expandable portion secured to a distal end of said catheter tube comprising a plurality of struts, each defining an outward facing surface and being operable between a collapsed position wherein the expandable portion has a first diameter and an expanded position wherein the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter;

a flexible inner sleeve disposed within the catheter tube and supported for sliding movement within the catheter tube atop a guide wire;

an incising element provided on, and extending outwardly from, the outward facing surface of at least one of the struts and extending longitudinally along at least a portion thereof; and

a sharpened edge located along an upper edge thereof for incising and generating microparticles of atherosclerotic material, said sharpened edge extending along a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the closed position;

locating the intravascular device at the zone of attention;

placing the expandable portion in the expanded position by sliding movement of the flexible inner sleeve in a first direction;

manipulating the intravascular device along the zone of attention so as to incise the atherosclerotic material and generate microparticles of the atherosclerotic material for absorption into the blood vessel; and

placing the expandable portion in the collapsed position by sliding movement of the flexible inner sleeve in a second direction.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

providing a sheath on the intravascular device, wherein the sheath is configured to be operable between an open position where the incising members are exposed, and a closed position where the sheath covers the expandable portion;

placing the expandable portion within the vascular system of a patient;

placing the sheath in the open position;

placing the protective sheath in the closed position so as to trap any material deposited on the incising elements; and

removing the expandable portion from the patient's vascular system.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the sharpened edge is configured to create incisions which break the surface tension in the atherosclerotic material and create luminal gain.