Method and apparatus for inflating and deflating balloon catheters
First Claim
1. A method of inflating and deflating a catheter having an expandable membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
- controllably inflating the expandable membrane to a target pressure or volume;
ablating a desired tissue region while maintaining the target pressure or volume of the expandable membrane; and
controllably deflating the expandable membrane.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling the inflation, ablation, and deflation of a balloon catheter. The system includes a balloon catheter, a console, having a pressurized gas or liquid inflation source, and an umbilical system to deliver pressurized coolant to the balloon catheter. The system comprises a PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) controller or other pressure-sensing device that monitors the amount of pressure and volume within the balloon catheter. During inflation, the pressure and/or volume of fluid within the balloon is maintained at a target amount in order to provide sufficient mechanized pressure against the desired target region. The system limits the inflation pressure such that a safe quantity of gas would be released should a leak occur. If the amount falls below a certain threshold level, gas or fluid egress is presumed and the inflation process is halted. In one embodiment, an intermediate console is placed between the console and the balloon catheter and coupled thereto. If a leak is detected, a shut off valve in the intermediate station is activated and the flow of pressurized coolant is interrupted. The balloon catheter can be re-inflated by a separate coolant source in the intermediate station or by a syringe. A further embodiment provides a second balloon to envelope the first balloon and in order to provide a safety vacuum between the two balloons.
193 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of inflating and deflating a catheter having an expandable membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
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controllably inflating the expandable membrane to a target pressure or volume;
ablating a desired tissue region while maintaining the target pressure or volume of the expandable membrane; and
controllably deflating the expandable membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for inflating and deflating a catheter having an expandable membrane, the catheter being part of a catheter system including a first console, a catheter, and an umbilical system coupling the first console to the catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
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evacuating air from the expandable membrane by creating a vacuum in the expandable membrane;
controllably inflating the expandable membrane proximate a desired tissue region, the expandable membrane being inflated to a target pressure or volume in order to provide sufficient mechanical force against the desired tissue region;
ablating the desired tissue region while maintaining the expandable membrane at the target pressure or volume; and
controllably deflating the expandable membrane.
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12. An apparatus for inflating and deflating a catheter having a first expandable membrane, the apparatus comprising:
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a first console including means for controlling the inflation and deflation of the first expandable membrane in order to reach a target pressure or volume;
a catheter; and
an umbilical system coupling the console to the catheter and delivering pressurized coolant to the first expandable membrane. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification