Segmented balloon catheter for stenting bifurcation lesions

• US 20040015231A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William S. Suhr
• Original Assignee: William S. Suhr
• Inventors: Suhr, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,761,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A segmented balloon catheter for use in treating a condition of a blood vessel occurring near a bifurcation comprises a shaft which includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal passageway that extends therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end. A first balloon portion is mounted on the shaft adjacent the distal end, and a second balloon portion is mounted on the shaft adjacent the first balloon portion. The shaft also comprises a transverse port which extends between the longitudinal passageway and the exterior of the segmented balloon catheter from between the first and second balloon portions. In this manner, a proximal end of a first guide wire which is pre-positioned in the main vessel may be inserted into the distal end of the shaft and threaded through the longitudinal passageway and out the proximal end of the shaft, and a proximal end of a second guide wire which is pre-positioned in the side branch vessel may be inserted into the transverse port and threaded through the longitudinal passageway and out the proximal end of the shaft.

Claims

1. A segmented balloon catheter for use in treating a condition of a vessel occurring near a bifurcation that is defined by the intersection of a main vessel with a side branch vessel, the segmented balloon catheter comprising:

a shaft which includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal passageway that extends therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end;

a first balloon portion which is mounted on the shaft adjacent the distal end;

a second balloon portion which is mounted on the shaft adjacent the first balloon portion;

the shaft comprising a transverse port which extends between the longitudinal passageway and the exterior of the segmented balloon catheter from between the first and second balloon portions;

wherein a proximal end of a first guide wire which is pre-positioned in the main vessel may be inserted into the distal end of the shaft and threaded through the longitudinal passageway and out the proximal end of the shaft; and

wherein a proximal end of a second guide wire which is prepositioned in the side branch vessel may be inserted into the transverse port and threaded through the longitudinal passageway and out the proximal end of the shaft;

whereby the first and second balloon portions may be guided to the bifurcation on the first and second guide wires.

2. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the first and second balloon portions comprise a single balloon head.

3. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon head comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a midpoint which is located between the first and second balloon portions.

4. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the proximal and distal ends of the balloon head are each secured and sealed to the shaft.

5. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 4, wherein the midpoint of the balloon head is secured and sealed to the shaft.

6. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon head comprises a hole which is aligned with the transverse port in the shaft.

7. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises an inner tube which comprises a first distal end and an outer tube which comprises a second distal end.

8. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the first and second distal ends are secured and sealed together to form an inflation passageway between the inner and outer tubes.

9. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 8, wherein the outer tube comprises a first inflation hole which extends between the inflation passageway and the first balloon portion and a second inflation hole which extends between the inflation passageway and the second balloon portion.

10. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein:

the first and second balloon portions comprise a single balloon head which comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a midpoint that is located between the first and second balloon portions;

the distal end of the balloon head is secured and sealed to the first distal end of the inner tube; and

the proximal end of the balloon head is secured and sealed to the second distal end of the outer tube.

11. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein an inflation passageway is defined between the inner and outer tubes.

12. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the midpoint comprises an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube.

13. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 1, further comprising a stent which is mounted on the first and second balloon portions.

14. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 13, wherein the stent comprises a window which is aligned with the transverse port in the shaft.

15. The segmented balloon catheter of claim 14, wherein the stent is a drug coated or drug eluting stent.

16. A method for treating a condition of a vessel occurring near a bifurcation that is defined by the intersection of a main vessel with a side branch vessel, the method comprising:

inserting a first guide wire into the main vessel and a second guide wire into the side branch vessel;

providing a first balloon catheter having distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough from the distal end to the proximal end, a first balloon portion, a second balloon portion and a lateral port extending between the longitudinal passageway and the exterior of the balloon catheter from between the first and second balloon portions;

mounting a first expandable stent over the first and second balloon portions;

threading a proximal end of the first guide wire into the distal end of the first balloon catheter and out the proximal end of the first balloon catheter;

threading a proximal end of the second guide wire through the first stent, into the lateral port and out the proximal end of the first balloon catheter;

advancing the first and second balloon portions into the main vessel adjacent the bifurcation; and

inflating the first and second balloon portions to thereby implant the first stent in the main vessel adjacent the bifurcation.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a second balloon catheter having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough and a balloon portion;

mounting a second expandable stent over the balloon portion of the second balloon catheter;

threading the proximal end of the second guide wire through the longitudinal passageway of the second balloon catheter;

advancing the balloon portion of the second balloon catheter through the first stent and into the second branch vessel adjacent the bifurcation; and

inflating the balloon portion of the second balloon catheter to thereby implant the second stent in the side branch vessel adjacent the bifurcation.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the following preliminary steps:

providing a third balloon catheter having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough and a balloon portion;

threading the proximal end of the second guide wire through the longitudinal passageway of the third balloon catheter;

advancing the balloon portion of the third balloon catheter at least partially through a window in the first stent and into the second branch vessel; and

inflating the balloon portion of the third balloon catheter to thereby align the window with the side branch vessel.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a therapeutic substance on the first stent.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the stent is a drug coated or drug eluting stent.