METHOD OF MAKING MULTILUMEN BALLOON CATHETER

• US 3,634,924 A
• Filed: 04/20/1970
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bruce D. Bett, Clement E. Lieber, Lawrence W. Blake
• Inventors: Lieber, Clement E., Blake, Lawrence W., Bett, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moon, Charlie T.
• Application Number:
  US05/029,889
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 29/447,157 264/230 128/348,349B
• US Class Current: 29/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1065 having a balloon which is inversely attached to the shaft at the distal or proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1034 Joining of shaft and balloon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49865 by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]

Abstract

A multilumen tube is extruded from a thermoplastic material having a memory characteristic. An end portion of the tube is heated sufficiently to soften the plastic and permit the end portion to be drawn out to a reduced diameter. A pair of metal ferrules is placed on the reduced end portion in predetermined positions spaced a short distance apart. Then the reduced portion is heated in relaxed condition causing it to reexpand and lock the ferrules in place. Balloon inflation openings are formed communicating with one of the lumens. A sleeve of balloon material is secured by bindings over the ferrules. In one embodiment the tube is limp and the balloon is utilized as a sail to flow carry the catheter through a vein into and through the heart and into the pulmonary artery.

Claims

1. The method of making a balloon catheter comprising providing a catheter tube of a thermoplastic material having a memory characteristic and containing a balloon inflation lumen, applying heat to an end portion of said tube sufficient to soften said material, drawing out and elongating said softened portion to shrink its diameter, applying a pair of rigid ferrules over said shrunken portion, applying heat to said shrunken portion to reexpand its diameter and lock said ferrules on said tube, forming a balloon inflation opening in said material communicating with said lumen, applying a sleeve of elastic balloon material over said reexpanded portion, and binding said balloon material to said ferrules.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of forming said tube initially by extrusion.

3. The method of claim 1 including the step of applying a rotary cutter to said tube to form said balloon inflation opening.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said tube has a through flow lumen in addition to said balloon inflation lumen.

5. The method of claim 1 including the step of plugging the distal end of said balloon inflation lumen.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of die-forming a contoured tip on said tube.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said softening heat is applied by hot water.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said reexpanding heat is applied by radiant energy.