Balloon catheter having osmotic inflation system

• US 20060253147A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cangialosi, Vincent J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/00 Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor separation of gases or vapours by diffusion B01D53/22

Abstract

A system and method for inflating and deflating a catheter balloon using osmosis. An elongate catheter shaft has a proximally disposed osmotic membrane in fluid communication with a distally mounted balloon through a fluid-filled catheter lumen. The balloon is inflated by exposing the exterior of the membrane to a solution that is hypotonic relative to the solution within the catheter lumen. The balloon is deflated by exposing the exterior of the membrane to a solution that is hypertonic in relation to the solution within the catheter lumen.

Claims

1. A system for inflating a catheter balloon, the system comprising:

an elongate hollow shaft having a lumen filled with a first fluid solution;

a balloon disposed adjacent a distal end of the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen;

an osmotic membrane disposed adjacent a proximal end of the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a first vial having an opening for receiving the membrane, the first vial containing a second fluid solution.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second solution is hypotonic relative to the first solution.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a second vial containing a third fluid solution.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the third solution is hypertonic relative to the second solution.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the first solution, the second solution and the third solution each contain a solute chosen from the group consisting of glucose, lactose, sucrose, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, glycine, albumin, insulin, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the first solution comprises a 0.5 M glucose solution, the second solution comprises a 0.1 M glucose solution and the third solution comprises a 1.0 M glucose solution.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the first solution comprises a 1 gram NaCl/liter solution, the second solution comprises a 0.1 gram NaCl/liter solution and the third solution comprises a 2 gram NaCl/liter solution.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the osmotic membrane is a semipermeable membrane.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the osmotic membrane is a rigid membrane.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the osmotic membrane is a flexible membrane.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a membrane support fixedly attached adjacent the proximal end of the hypotube.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the membrane support comprises an outer membrane support and an inner membrane support, the osmotic membrane being disposed there between.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the membrane support comprises a framework having a plurality of openings.

14. A system for providing distal protection, the system comprising:

an occlusion balloon mounted about a hypotube;

an osmotic membrane in fluid communication with the balloon; and

means for inflating the balloon.

15. A method of using a balloon catheter, the method comprising:

advancing a catheter balloon to a treatment site in a patient, the balloon in fluid communication with a catheter lumen containing a first solution;

inserting an osmotic membrane located at a proximal end of the catheter into a first vial containing a second solution; and

inflating the balloon.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

deflating the balloon.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the second solution is hypotonic relative to the first solution.

17. The method of 16 wherein deflating the balloon comprises:

inserting the membrane into a second vial containing a third solution.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the third solution is hypertonic relative to the first solution.