BALLOON CATHETER FOR TREATING HARDENED LESIONS

• US 20080103443A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Melsheimer, Jeffry S., Kabrick, Chris R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/103.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0034 characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores making of catheters A61M25/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1059 having different inflatable sections mainly depending on the response to the inflation pressure, e.g. due to different material properties with different compartments A61M2025/1072
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for treating vascular conditions, and in particular, hardened or fibrous material in a stenosis. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a catheter having proximal and distal regions and a plurality of balloons segments disposed on the distal region at intervals about a circumference of the catheter. A first set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a first pressure on the vascular condition, and then a second set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a second pressure on the vascular condition. The plurality of balloon segments may be formed by taking one length of balloon material and affixing the material to an outer surface of the catheter at a plurality of segment dividing locations to separate adjacent balloon segments, or alternatively, by providing multiple separate balloon materials.

Claims

1. An apparatus suitable for treating a vascular condition, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter having proximal and distal regions;

a plurality of balloon segments disposed on the distal region at intervals about a circumference of the catheter; and

an inflation lumen corresponding to each balloon segment,

wherein the inflation lumens corresponding to a first set of opposing balloon segments are in fluid communication with one another, thereby causing substantially simultaneous inflation of the first set of opposing balloon segments.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation lumens corresponding to a second set of opposing balloon segments are in fluid communication with one another, thereby causing substantially simultaneous inflation of the second set of opposing balloon segments.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vascular condition comprises a stenosis, wherein the inflation of the first set of opposing balloon segments at substantially the same time creates a non-uniform stress on the stenosis to facilitate treatment of the stenosis.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the catheter comprises four balloon segments disposed at substantially equal intervals about the circumference of the catheter, wherein the first set of opposing balloon segments comprise first and third balloon segments disposed approximately 180 degrees apart.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the catheter comprises four balloon segments disposed at substantially equal intervals about the circumference of the catheter, wherein the second set of opposing balloon segments comprise second and fourth balloon segments disposed approximately 180 degrees apart.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of balloon segments are formed by taking one length of balloon material and affixing the material to an outer surface of the catheter at a plurality of segment dividing locations to separate adjacent balloon segments.

7. A method for treating a vascular condition, the method comprising:

providing a catheter having proximal and distal regions, and a plurality of balloon segments disposed on the distal region;

delivering the catheter into a vessel with the plurality of balloon segments in a deflated state;

inflating a first set of opposing balloon segments at substantially the same time to apply a first pressure on the vascular condition; and

inflating a second set of opposing balloon segments at substantially the same time to apply a second pressure on the vascular condition.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first pressure is substantially the same as the second pressure.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the vascular condition comprises a stenosis, wherein the inflation of the first set of opposing balloon segments at substantially the same time creates a stress on the stenosis to facilitate removal of atherosclerotic plaque.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the catheter comprises four balloon segments disposed at substantially equal intervals about a circumference of the catheter, wherein the step of inflating a first set of opposing balloon segments comprises inflating first and third balloon segments disposed approximately 180 degrees apart.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of inflating a second set of opposing balloon segments comprises inflating second and fourth balloon segments disposed approximately 180 degrees apart.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing an inflation lumen corresponding to each balloon segment; and

selectively inflating each balloon segment by providing an inflation fluid through a respective inflation lumen.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the inflation lumens corresponding to the first set of opposing balloon segments are in fluid communication with one another, thereby causing substantially simultaneous inflation of the first set of opposing balloon segments.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the inflation lumens corresponding to the second set of opposing balloon segments are in fluid communication with one another, thereby causing substantially simultaneous inflation of the second set of opposing balloon segments.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of balloon segments are formed by providing one length of balloon material and affixing the material to an outer surface of the catheter to separate adjacent balloon segments.

16. Apparatus suitable for treating a vascular condition, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter having proximal and distal regions; and

a plurality of balloon segments disposed on the distal region at intervals about a circumference of the catheter,

wherein the plurality of balloon segments are formed by providing one length of balloon material and affixing the material to an outer surface of the catheter at a plurality of segment dividing locations to separate adjacent balloon segments.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the balloon material is attached to the catheter at the plurality of segment dividing locations using an adhesive.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the balloon material further is attached to the catheter at proximal and distal attachment regions.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a first set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a first pressure on the vascular condition, and wherein a second set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a second pressure on the vascular condition.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the catheter comprises four balloon segments disposed at substantially equal intervals about a circumference of the catheter, wherein the first set of opposing balloon segments comprise first and third balloon segments disposed approximately 180 degrees apart.