Optical coherence tomography after new scoring balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis and de novo coronary lesions

The AngioSculpt scoring balloon catheter (AngioScore, Inc., Fremont, California) has recently been developed for percutaneous intervention in coronary and peripheral arteries. This device is composed of two major components, a minimally compliant balloon and three nitinol wore. The three wires encapsulate the low-compliant balloon in a spiral configuration. The concept is for the spiral wires to score the lumen surface during balloon expansion. However, the precise mechanisms and efficacy of this scoring technology in humans had not yet to be determined. In this case, both a de novo coronary lesion and an in-stent restenosis lesion were treated with the scoring balloon and were subsequently observed via optical coherence tomography (OCT) with high-resolution images ( approximately 15 microm). OCT clearly demonstrated the effects of this device on plaque and neointimal hyperplasia scoring, as well as its ability to achieve sufficient lumen sizes after coronary artery dilatation.