Rapid exchange balloon catheter with braided shaft

• US 20050197669A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microport Cardiovascular LLC
• Original Assignee: Conor Medsystems Incorporated
• Inventors: Fisher, Beau M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,252,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0059 having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/018 Catheters having a lateral opening for guiding elongated means lateral to the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A balloon catheter for use alone or as a stent delivery system includes a balloon segment and a shaft segment having a varying flexibility. The shaft segment includes a polymer encased braid which extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft segment for added pushability and kink resistance. A flexible distal tip extends from the balloon for improved trackability.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter comprising:

a balloon segment having an expandable balloon and a guidewire tube extending through the balloon, the guidewire tube having a proximal port near a proximal end of the balloon and a distal port near a distal end of the balloon;

a shaft segment connected to a proximal end of the balloon segment, the shaft segment including a polymer encased braid with an inflation lumen extending from a proximal end of the distal segment to the interior of the balloon segment; and

a hypotube located within a proximal portion of the shaft segment.

2. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the braid is woven over the hypotube along substantially an entire length of the hypotube.

3. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft segment includes a tapered segment just distal to a distal end of the hypotube.

4. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the hypotube has a constant inner and outer diameter.

5. The balloon catheter of claim 4, wherein the shaft segment distal of the hypotube has a substantially constant inner diameter and a tapering outer diameter.

6. A balloon catheter comprising:

a balloon segment having an expandable balloon and a guidewire tube extending through the balloon, the guidewire tube having a proximal port near a proximal end of the balloon and a distal port near a distal end of the balloon;

a shaft segment connected to a proximal end of the balloon segment, the shaft segment including an inflation lumen extending from a proximal end of the distal segment to the interior of the balloon segment; and

a flexible distal tip extending distally of the balloon segment, the distal tip formed of a material different from the balloon segment.

7. The balloon catheter of claim 6, wherein the distal tip has a length of at least 0.2 inches.

8. The balloon catheter of claim 6, wherein the distal tip has a length of at least 0.3 inches.

9. The balloon catheter of claim 6, wherein the distal tip is formed of a material which is more flexible than a shaft segment material.

10. The balloon catheter of claim 6, wherein the distal tip is fused to a distal end of the expandable balloon and a distal end of the guidewire tube.

11. The balloon catheter of claim 6, wherein the distal tip is tapered to provide improved access to narrow lumens.

12. A balloon catheter comprising:

a balloon segment having an expandable balloon and a guidewire tube extending through the balloon, the guidewire tube having a proximal port near a proximal end of the balloon and a distal port near a distal end of the balloon;

a shaft segment connected to a proximal end of the balloon segment, the shaft segment comprising a polymer encased braid with an inflation lumen extending from a proximal end of the distal segment to the interior of the balloon segment; and

a distal end of the braid cut at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft segment, and a tip of the angle cut braid extending distally at least to the proximal port of the guidewire tube.

13. The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein a distal tip of the cut end of the braid is positioned on the catheter wall opposite the proximal port of the guidewire tube.