SEGMENTED BALLOON FOR CATHETER TIP DEFLECTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon catheter for use in a body lumen, the balloon catheter comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft having one or more inflation lumens, the one or more inflation lumens proximally extending and terminating into one or more corresponding inflation lumen ports, each of the corresponding one or more inflation lumen ports configured to be in fluid communication with a pressurizable inflation source;
one or more balloons disposed circumferentially about the distal end of the shaft, each of the one or more balloons disposed along a corresponding portion of a circumference of the distal end of the shaft, each of the one or more balloons having a separate interior chamber corresponding with the one or more inflation lumens, wherein the one or more balloons has a structure configured for expansion of the interior chamber, and further wherein expansion of the one or more balloons creates an asymmetrical force sufficient to bend the distal end of the shaft in a lateral direction.
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Abstract
A balloon catheter is provided that may be used to maneuver around tortuous body lumens. The balloon catheter comprises one or more balloons disposed about a tip of the shaft. Each balloon includes a dedicated lumen to allow inflation of each balloon independent of the others. Inflation of a balloon causes the shaft tip to deflect in a direction that is oriented opposite of the inflated balloon. The bent orientation of the shaft tip allows the catheter and a guide wire to be maneuvered through tortuous body lumens.
41 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A balloon catheter for use in a body lumen, the balloon catheter comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft having one or more inflation lumens, the one or more inflation lumens proximally extending and terminating into one or more corresponding inflation lumen ports, each of the corresponding one or more inflation lumen ports configured to be in fluid communication with a pressurizable inflation source; one or more balloons disposed circumferentially about the distal end of the shaft, each of the one or more balloons disposed along a corresponding portion of a circumference of the distal end of the shaft, each of the one or more balloons having a separate interior chamber corresponding with the one or more inflation lumens, wherein the one or more balloons has a structure configured for expansion of the interior chamber, and further wherein expansion of the one or more balloons creates an asymmetrical force sufficient to bend the distal end of the shaft in a lateral direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A balloon catheter for use in a body lumen, the balloon catheter comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft having a first inflation lumen, the first inflation lumen proximally extending and terminating into a corresponding inflation lumen port, the inflation lumen port configured to be in fluid communication with a pressurizable inflation source; and a first balloon spanning a first arc region circumferentially about an outer surface of the distal end of the shaft, the first balloon having a first interior chamber in fluid communication with the first inflation lumen, the first balloon configured to expand from a deflated state, wherein the expansion creates a first force sufficient to bend the distal end of the shaft in a first lateral direction to produce a first deflection at the distal end along a direction of the first force. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of advancing a device through a tortuous body lumen, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a balloon catheter comprising; a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft having a first inflation lumen, the first inflation lumen proximally extending and terminating into a corresponding first inflation lumen port, the first inflation lumen port configured to be in fluid communication with a pressurizable inflation source; a first balloon spanning a first arc region circumferentially about an outer surface of the distal end of the shaft, the first balloon having a first interior chamber in fluid communication with the first inflation lumen; (b) injecting inflation fluid through the port with the inflation source; (c) inflating the first balloon; (d) asymmetrically loading the distal end of the shaft with a first force; (e) bending the distal end of the shaft along the direction of the first force in a first direction to create a first bent orientation; and (f) advancing the distal end along the first direction to gain access through the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification