| abstract |
Techniques and devices for treating atherosclerotic disease use controlled cryogenic cooling, often in combination with angioplasty and/or stenting. A combination cryogenic/angioplasty catheter may cool the diseased blood vessel before, during, and/or after dilation. Controlled cooling of the vessel wall reduces actual/observed hyperplasia as compared to conventional uncooled angioplasty. Similar reductions in restenosis may be provided for other primary treatments of the blood vessel, including directional arthrectomy, rotational arthrectomy, laser angioplasty, stenting, and the like. Cooling of vessel wall tissues will often be performed through plaque, and the cooling process will preferably take the thermodynamic effects of the plaque into account. |