Cutting balloon

A cutting balloon is an angioplasty device invented by Barath et al. used in percutaneous coronary interventions. It has a special balloon tip with small blades, that are activated when the balloon is inflated. This procedure is different from Rotoblation (Percutaneous Transluminal Rotational Atherectomy or PCRA) whereby a diamond tipped device spins at high revolutions to cut away calcific (chalky) atheroma usually prior to coronary stenting.

References

• Barath P, Fishbein MC, Vari S, Forrester JS (1991). "cutting balloon: A novel approach to percutaneous angioplasty". Am J Cardiol 68 (11): 1249–1251. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(91)90207-2. PMID 1842213. 
• Lee M, Singh V, Nero T, Wilentz J (2002). "Cutting balloon angioplasty.". J Invasive Cardiol 14 (9): 552–6. PMID 12205358.  Full text
• Cejna M (2005). "Cutting balloon: review on principles and background of use in peripheral arteries.". Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 28 (4): 400–8. doi:10.1007/s00270-004-0115-4. PMID 16034656. 

External links

• Overview Coronary Artery Disease Treatment - Coronary Interventions ANGIOPLASTY, STENTS AND ATHERECTOMY (Cleveland Clinic)
• Cardiology Channel