| CPC A61B 17/320725 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3209 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00986 (2013.01); A61B 17/32075 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. An intravascular catheter device for incising tissue located within a blood vessel, said intravascular catheter device comprising:
a flexible catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
a sheath;
an expandable portion secured to the distal end of the flexible catheter tube and comprising a first collar portion at a proximal end of the expandable portion, a second collar portion at a distal end of the expandable portion, and a plurality of struts, each extending longitudinally between the first collar portion and the second collar portion such that each of said first collar portion and said second collar portion interconnect each of the plurality of struts, wherein said expandable portion is configured for controllable movement between a first position where at least a portion of each of said plurality of struts is moved outward so as to extend beyond an outer surface of said sheath and a second position where at least said portion of each of said plurality of struts is moved towards one another;
a tip member located distal to, and spaced apart from, the distal end of said expandable portion;
a limiter interposed between the second collar portion of said expandable portion and said tip member, wherein the limiter is configured to exert a counterforce against movement of said expandable portion between said first position and said second position; and
an incising element associated with one of the plurality of struts, wherein said incising element extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the one of the plurality of struts to incise said tissue when said intravascular catheter device is placed within said blood vessel, said expandable portion is placed in said first position, and said expandable portion is retracted axially along the blood vessel.
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