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 to 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.