Focused force angioplasty: theory and application.

Focused force angioplasty is a technique in which the forces resulting from inflating an angioplasty balloon in a stenosis are concentrated and focused at one or more locations within the stenosis. While the technique has been shown to be useful in resolving resistant stenoses, its real value may be in minimizing the vascular trauma associated with balloon angioplasty and subsequently improving the outcome.

Improved outcome with novel device for low-pressure PTCA in de novo and in-stent lesions.

Purpose: Complex lesion morphology requiring the use of high pressure to effect lumen expansion and in-stent restenosis (ISR) remain two indications that challenge conventional PTCA balloons. We report on a new PTCA device that is designed to provide precise, low-pressure dilatation of both de novo and in-stent lesions.

Methods: The FX miniRAIL catheter (FX) has an integral wire positioned external to a dilating balloon and a short, 12-mm guidewire lumen distal to the balloon.

Angiographic outcome after intracoronary X-Sizer helical atherectomy and thrombectomy: first use in humans.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early angiographic outcome in the first human subjects who underwent intracoronary atherectomy and thrombectomy using the X-Sizer helical cutting and aspiration system. Percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with thrombo-occlusive disease or friable degenerative saphenous vein grafts are associated with considerable periprocedural morbidity and mortality, predominantly related to microscopic distal embolization. X-Sizer catheter system is a novel atherectomy and thrombectomy device that consists of a helix cutter connected to a handheld motor drive unit and a vacuum collection chamber for aspiration of excised atheroma, thrombus, and debris.