MULTI-FUNCTION CATHETER AND USE THEREOF
First Claim
1. A multi-function catheter, comprising:
- a tubular catheter body having an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;
an inflatable balloon assembly at the distal end of the tubular catheter body, the inflatable balloon assembly comprising a proximal balloon element, a distal balloon element, and a central balloon element capable of multi-stage inflation;
a fluid delivery conduit;
a balloon control conduit that controls one or more of the proximal balloon element, the distal balloon element, and the central balloon element; and
wherein said multi-function catheter is adapted to perform a medical treatment in a vascular system and form a stent at the treatment site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a multi-function catheter assembly for treating arterial plaques. The multifunction catheter comprises a flexible tubular catheter body, an inflatable balloon assembly capable of multi-stage inflation at a distal end of the catheter body, at least one fluid delivery conduit formed on the catheter body, and at least one balloon control conduit formed within the catheter body. The balloon, when inflated to a first stage inside a vessel at the treatment site, defines a chamber between the balloon and the vessel wall. The at least one fluid delivery conduit is adapted to permit the delivery of an agent into the chamber to dissolve a plaque. After the removal of the plaque, the balloon is further inflated to a second stage to install a stent in the space that is vacated by the plaque. The stent can be a pre-manufactured stent or a customized stent formed by filing the space between the balloon and the treated vessel wall with a fluent composition that is solidified in situ. The multi-function catheter may also be used for sealing off aneurysms, dilating vessel passages, and treating tumors and trauma.
86 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A multi-function catheter, comprising:
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a tubular catheter body having an inner lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end; an inflatable balloon assembly at the distal end of the tubular catheter body, the inflatable balloon assembly comprising a proximal balloon element, a distal balloon element, and a central balloon element capable of multi-stage inflation; a fluid delivery conduit; a balloon control conduit that controls one or more of the proximal balloon element, the distal balloon element, and the central balloon element; and wherein said multi-function catheter is adapted to perform a medical treatment in a vascular system and form a stent at the treatment site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for using a multi-function catheter for a medical treatment, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing a multi-function catheter at a treatment site; inflating a balloon assembly using a balloon assembly comprising a proximal balloon element, a distal balloon element, and a central balloon element capable of multi-stage inflation, wherein the balloon assembly dilates a vessel passage; and installing a stent at the treatment site using a stent attached to an outer periphery of the central balloon element wherein the central balloon element is inflated to install the stent. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification