Balloon catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon catheter, comprising:
- a hollow flexible catheter tube;
a flexible inner member disposed coaxially within said catheter tube and fixed thereto against relative longitudinal displacement, the distal end of said inner member extending beyond the distal end of said catheter tube, said inner member being sized and configured to provide a longitudinal passageway between said inner member and said catheter tube for the passage of fluid therethrough;
connecting means for connecting the longitudinal passageway to an external source of pressurized fluid; and
a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner member, the proximal end of said balloon being fixed and sealed to the distal end of said catheter tube and the distal end of said balloon being fixed and sealed to the distal end of said inner member to define an annular balloon chamber, said annular balloon chamber being in fluid flow communication with the longitudinal passageway, said balloon including an impervious elastic wall for retaining pressure therein, said elastic wall being reinforced by a knitted fabric tube for permitting said balloon to expand to a predetermined maximum diameter while remaining fixed in length.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon catheter having an expandable and collapsible elastic balloon is shown, wherein the balloon is reinforced by knitted fabric such that the balloon can not expand beyond a predetermined diameter regardless of the internal pressure applied to the balloon. The knitted construction permits the balloon to expand in diameter without shortening in length, and permits the balloon to collapse smoothly without folds and wrinkles.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A balloon catheter, comprising:
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a hollow flexible catheter tube; a flexible inner member disposed coaxially within said catheter tube and fixed thereto against relative longitudinal displacement, the distal end of said inner member extending beyond the distal end of said catheter tube, said inner member being sized and configured to provide a longitudinal passageway between said inner member and said catheter tube for the passage of fluid therethrough; connecting means for connecting the longitudinal passageway to an external source of pressurized fluid; and a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner member, the proximal end of said balloon being fixed and sealed to the distal end of said catheter tube and the distal end of said balloon being fixed and sealed to the distal end of said inner member to define an annular balloon chamber, said annular balloon chamber being in fluid flow communication with the longitudinal passageway, said balloon including an impervious elastic wall for retaining pressure therein, said elastic wall being reinforced by a knitted fabric tube for permitting said balloon to expand to a predetermined maximum diameter while remaining fixed in length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A balloon catheter, comprising:
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a hollow flexible catheter tube; connecting means for connecting said catheter tube to an external source of pressurized fluid; an expandable and collapsible balloon disposed coaxially about said catheter tube, the ends of said balloon being fixed and sealed to said catheter tube to define an annular balloon chamber, said balloon including an impervious elastic wall for retaining pressure therein, said elastic wall being reinforced by a knitted fabric tube for permitting said balloon to expand to a predetermined maximum diameter while remaining fixed in length; and means for providing pressurized fluid flow communication between said catheter tube and said annular balloon chamber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A balloon catheter, comprising:
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a catheter tube; an expandable and collapsible balloon attached to said catheter tube, said balloon including an impervious elastic layer for retaining pressure therein, said balloon being reinforced by a knitted fabric layer configured as a tube including a continuous yarn strand arranged generally in a helix, said yarn strand being configured as periodically spaced loops, with each loop in each turn of the helix passing through an adjacent loop in the next preceding turn, to limit the maximum expanded diameter of said balloon; and means for connecting said balloon in communication with an external source of pressurized fluid. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification