1.   He underwent the balloon procedure and received two stents to keep the clogged arteries open.

2.   It also costs four to five times as much as the balloon procedure.

3.   The balloon procedure was needed to clear clogged arteries to the heart, Melikian said.

4.   The company said a trial of its heart drug Reopro showed that it had reduced the risks of death and heart attacks following balloon angioplasty procedures.

5.   The fight involves a patent owned by a German inventor, Dr. Tassilo Bonzel, for a catheter used in balloon angioplasty procedures, which open blocked coronary arteries.

6.   The study was designed to let patients in the laser group receive the balloon procedure if the laser was not effective by itself.

7.   Vincent said speedy action to prevent clotting is vital for angioplasty patients whose arteries close after a balloon procedure.