Abstract: A balloon catheter (1) including a device (3) adjacent the distal end (12) of a catheter (10) for guiding a boring tool (5) or other instrument into an occlusion (6) in a vessel (8), includes a guide element (30) adjacent the distal end (12). A penetrating element (33) having a first guide bore (38) terminating in a distal cutting edge (40) is rotatable in a second guide bore (45) extending through the guide element. External threads on the penetrating element (33) are engageable with internal threads in the second guide bore (45), so that by rotating the penetrating element (33) the distal cutting edge (40) is urged outwardly to penetrate the occlusion (6). With the penetrating element (33) securely engaged in the occlusion (6), a boring tool (5) and other instruments can then be sequentially guided through the catheter (10) and the first guide bore (38) directly into the occlusion.

Abstract: A balloon catheter (1) comprising a device (3) located adjacent the distal end (12) of a catheter (10) of the balloon catheter (1) for guiding a boring tool (6) or other instrument into an occlusion (6) in a vessel (8) comprises a guide element (30) located adjacent a distal end (12) of the catheter (10). A penetrating element (33) defining a first guide bore (38) extending therethrough and terminating in a distal cutting edge (40) is rotatable in a second guide bore (45) extending through the guide element (30) located adjacent the distal end (12) of the catheter (10). External threads (49) on the penetrating element (33) are engageable with internal threads (50) located in the second guide bore (45) of the guide element (30), so that by rotating the penetrating element (33) with an operating member (52) the distal cutting edge (40) of the penetrating element (33) is urged outwardly of the second guide bore (45) and into cutting engagement with the occlusion (6) in order to penetrate the occlusion (6).