BALLOON CATHETER SHAFTS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- an outer tubular member including a proximal region, a distal region, and a lumen extending therethrough;
an inner tubular member including a proximal region, a distal region, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the inner tubular member is at least partially disposed in the lumen of the outer tubular member;
two or more spacer members positioned between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, wherein the two or more spacer members are configured to maintain a gap between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member to provide a generally uniform temperature distribution for the inner tubular member; and
a balloon assembly including a proximal waist and a distal waist, wherein the proximal waist of the balloon assembly is coupled to the outer tubular member and the distal waist of the balloon assembly is coupled to the inner tubular member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Balloon catheters and methods for manufacturing catheter shafts are disclosed. In one example, a balloon catheter may include an outer tubular member disposed about an inner tubular member. In some cases, a fluid (e.g. cryogenic fluid) can be provided between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member and may cool the inner tubular member. To help provide a relatively uniform temperature distribution around a circumference of the inner tubular member, two or more spacers, protrusions, or gap-maintaining members can be positioned between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member to maintain a gap therebetween. In some cases, the spacers, protrusions, or gap-maintaining members may be attached to an inner surface of the outer tubular member or, in other cases, to an outer surface of the inner tubular member. In other embodiments, a step-down in an outer diameter of the outer tubular member is disclosed.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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an outer tubular member including a proximal region, a distal region, and a lumen extending therethrough; an inner tubular member including a proximal region, a distal region, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the inner tubular member is at least partially disposed in the lumen of the outer tubular member; two or more spacer members positioned between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, wherein the two or more spacer members are configured to maintain a gap between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member to provide a generally uniform temperature distribution for the inner tubular member; and a balloon assembly including a proximal waist and a distal waist, wherein the proximal waist of the balloon assembly is coupled to the outer tubular member and the distal waist of the balloon assembly is coupled to the inner tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing a catheter body, the method comprising:
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assembling a multi-lumen outer tubular member, wherein the multi-lumen tubular member includes; an inner liner; a reinforcement layer disposed over the inner liner; an outer layer disposed over the reinforcement layer; and two or more conduits disposed between the inner liner and the reinforcement layer, wherein the two or more conduits form two or more radial protrusions on an inner surface of the multi-lumen outer tubular member; reflowing the inner liner and the outer layer; and disposing an inner tubular member within the multi-lumen outer tubular member to define a cooling lumen therebetween, wherein the two or more protrusions on the inner surface of the multi-lumen inner tubular member are configured to maintain a gap between the inner tubular member and the multi-lumen outer tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. The method of claim 13, wherein the two or more conduits include a higher melting temperature than the inner liner and the outer layer.
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19. A method of operating a catheter, the method comprising:
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providing a balloon catheter including a catheter shaft having proximal region and a distal region, wherein the catheter shaft includes an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member, and a lumen is defined between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member, wherein the balloon catheter includes a balloon assembly disposed about the distal region of the catheter shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen; providing a cryogenic fluid through the lumen of the catheter shaft; and maintaining a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout a circumference of the inner tubular member when the cryogenic fluid is provided in the lumen of the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification