Variable Stiffness Balloon Catheter and Related Systems and Methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon catheter comprising:
- (a) a catheter shaft comprising;
(i) a proximal segment of the catheter shaft having a first predetermined stiffness;
(ii) a distal segment of the catheter shaft having a second predetermined stiffness; and
(iii) a transition zone disposed between the proximal segment and the distal segment, wherein the transition zone comprises a stiffness that varies gradually along a length of the zone; and
(b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft;
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The various embodiments herein relate to balloon catheters, and more specifically to balloon catheters having variable stiffnesses.
7 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A balloon catheter comprising:
-
(a) a catheter shaft comprising; (i) a proximal segment of the catheter shaft having a first predetermined stiffness; (ii) a distal segment of the catheter shaft having a second predetermined stiffness; and (iii) a transition zone disposed between the proximal segment and the distal segment, wherein the transition zone comprises a stiffness that varies gradually along a length of the zone; and (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:
-
inserting a balloon catheter over a guidewire into a blood vessel through an entry site, the balloon catheter comprising; (a) a catheter shaft comprising; (i) a proximal segment of the catheter shaft having a predetermined stiffness; (ii) a distal segment of the catheter shaft having a predetermined stiffness that is lower than the proximal segment; and (iii) a transition zone disposed between the proximal segment and the distal segment, wherein the transition zone comprises a stiffness that varies gradually along a length of the zone; and (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft; positioning the balloon within an anatomical structure; inflating the balloon; deflating the balloon; and retracting the balloon catheter from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:
-
inserting a balloon catheter over a guidewire into a blood vessel through an entry site, the balloon catheter comprising; (a) a catheter shaft comprising; (i) a proximal segment of the catheter shaft having a predetermined stiffness; (ii) a distal segment of the catheter shaft having a predetermined stiffness that is lower than the proximal length; and (iii) a middle segment disposed between the proximal segment and the distal segment; and (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft; positioning the balloon within an anatomical structure; inflating the balloon; deflating the balloon; and retracting the balloon catheter from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:
-
inserting a balloon catheter over a guidewire into a blood vessel through an entry site, the balloon catheter comprising; (a) a catheter shaft comprising a transition zone comprising a stiffness that varies gradually along a length of the zone, wherein a proximal portion of the transition zone is stiffer than a distal portion of the transition zone; and (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft; positioning the balloon within an anatomical structure; inflating the balloon; deflating the balloon; and retracting the balloon catheter from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:
-
inserting a balloon catheter over a guidewire through an entry site, the balloon catheter comprising; (a) a catheter shaft comprising; (i) first higher stiffness length at a proximal portion of the catheter shaft; (ii) a first medium stiffness length distal to the first higher stiffness length; (iii) a higher flexibility length distal to the first medium stiffness length; and (iv) a second medium stiffness length distal to the higher flexibility length; and (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter shaft; positioning the balloon within an anatomical structure; inflating; deflating the balloon; and retracting the balloon catheter from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
Specification