Dilatation method

• US 4,403,612 A
• Filed: 03/26/1982
• Issued: 09/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Fogarty
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Fogarty
• Inventors: Fogarty, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US06/362,295
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 128/344, 128/325, 128/348.1, 128/207.15, 604/101, 604/96
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1075 having a balloon composed of several layers, e.g. by coating or embedding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A dilatation catheter is provided with a double lumen tube and inner and outer inflatable and deflatable balloon elements, one within the other. The inner bag element is twisted for retraction while the outer bag element is inflated. Subsequent deflation of the outer bag element serves to further laterally compress the inner bag element and provide a smooth buffering surface for engagement with blood vessel walls as the catheter is moved past them.

Claims

1. A method for inserting an inflatable balloon into a partially occluded section of a blood vessel and for dilating said section comprising axially twisting the balloon to reduce its diameter for passage along said vessel and into said partially occluded section, moving said balloon along said vessel while maintaining its axially twisted condition to emplace it in said section, moving said occluded section away from said balloon so that said section is not in pressing relationship with respect to said balloon and holding said section in such position while axially untwisting said balloon to an untwisted condition, and inflating said balloon to dilate said section.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of subsequently deflating said balloon, moving said occluded section away from said balloon so that said section is not in pressing relationship with respect to said balloon and holding said section in such position while axially twisting said balloon to reduce its diameter for passage along said vessel, and withdrawing said balloon from said vessel.

3. A method for inserting an inflatable first balloon into a partially occluded section of a blood vessel and for dilating said section comprising laterally enclosing said first balloon within a non-twistable, elastic, inflatable, second balloon, axially twisting the first balloon to reduce its diameter for passage along said vessel and into said partially occluded section, moving said balloons along said vessel while maintaining the axially twisted condition of said first balloon to emplace them in said section, inflating said second balloon to maintain said occluded section and said second balloon is spaced apart relation to said first balloon while axially untwisting said first balloon, deflating said second balloon, and inflating said first balloon to expand said second balloon and dilate said second section.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of subsequently deflating said first balloon, inflating said second balloon to maintain said occluded section and said second balloon in spaced apart relation to said first balloon while axially twisting said first balloon to reduce its diameter for passage along said vessel, deflating said second balloon, and withdrawing said balloons from said vessel.