Dilatation catheter
First Claim
1. A dilatation catheter having a balloon portion which expands when the catheter is pressurized, the catheter comprising:
- a shaft of elastomeric material having a longitudinal axis, said elastomeric material reinforced with filaments which lie at an angle relative to the axis of the shaft, including a movable portion and a balloon portion,the movable portion having filaments which lie at an angle which is greater than a predetermined critical angle relative to the axis of the shaft, the critical angle being the angle at which expansion of the shaft stops when pressurized internally, the movable portion increasing in length when the catheter is pressurized,the balloon portion of the shaft being capable when internally pressurized of expansion in diameter to provide a balloon, the filaments of the balloon portion lying at an angle which is less than the critical angle, whereby, when the balloon portion is expanded under pressure, expansion of the balloon stops when the filaments lie at the critical angle,the increase in length of the movable portion corresponding substantially to a decrease in length of the balloon portion when the catheter is pressurized so that the location of the balloon portion remains substantially at the position prior to expansion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon catheter for use in angioplasty and the like includes a shaft made of an elastomeric tube reinforced with longitudinally inelastic filaments. In the distal balloon portion of the unpressurized shaft, the filaments lie at an angle which is less than a predetermined critical angle. In the adjacent movable portion of the shaft, the filaments lie at an angle which is greater than the critical angle. When the shaft is pressurized, the balloon portion expands in diameter and the balloon portion contracts in diameter until the filaments in each portion lie at the critical angle. At the same time, the length of the movable portion increases so as to offset the reduction in length of the balloon portion.
477 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A dilatation catheter having a balloon portion which expands when the catheter is pressurized, the catheter comprising:
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a shaft of elastomeric material having a longitudinal axis, said elastomeric material reinforced with filaments which lie at an angle relative to the axis of the shaft, including a movable portion and a balloon portion, the movable portion having filaments which lie at an angle which is greater than a predetermined critical angle relative to the axis of the shaft, the critical angle being the angle at which expansion of the shaft stops when pressurized internally, the movable portion increasing in length when the catheter is pressurized, the balloon portion of the shaft being capable when internally pressurized of expansion in diameter to provide a balloon, the filaments of the balloon portion lying at an angle which is less than the critical angle, whereby, when the balloon portion is expanded under pressure, expansion of the balloon stops when the filaments lie at the critical angle, the increase in length of the movable portion corresponding substantially to a decrease in length of the balloon portion when the catheter is pressurized so that the location of the balloon portion remains substantially at the position prior to expansion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A balloon catheter assembly for introduction into a blood vessel, comprising:
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an inner tube having a longitudinal axis; an outer tube in coaxial relation to the inner tube; the inner diameter of the outer tube being larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube so that the two tubes are axially displaceable with respect to each other and form an annular space between the tubes, and the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond the distal end of the outer tube with the distal end of the outer tube sealed to the inner tube; the outer tube formed of an elastomeric material reinforced by filamentary material which lie at an angle relative to the axis of the tubes and having at least an inflatable balloon portion and and elongation portion; the filamentary material in the balloon portion lying at an angle which is less than the critical angle relative to the axis, the critical angle being the angle at which expansion of the tubes stops when pressurized internally, so that when fluid is introduced under pressure into the annular space between the tubes, the balloon portions expands in diameter until the filamentary material is extended at the critical angle; and the filamentary material in the elongation portion lying at an angle greater than the critical angle so that the elongation portion expands in length in response to the pressure of the fluid; whereby a balloon forms with the increase in length of the elongation portion corresponding substantially to the decrease in length of the balloon portion when the catheter is pressurized so that the location of the balloon portion remains substantially at the position before expansion. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A balloon catheter assembly for introduction into a blood vessel, comprising:
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a catheter guide wire having a distal end and a proximal end; and a catheter shaft having a longitinal axis and a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft of an elastomeric material reinforced with filaments, and including a balloon portion and a movable portion;
the balloon portion of the shaft being capable when internally pressurized of expansion in diameter to provide the balloon, the filaments of the balloon portion lying at an angle which is less than a predetermined critical angle relative to the axis, the critical angle being the angle at which expansion of the shaft stops when pressurized internally, whereby, when the balloon portion is expanded under pressure, expansion of the balloon stops when the filaments lie at the critical angle;
the movable portion having filaments which lie at an angle which is greater than a predetermined critical angle relative to the axis of the shaft, the critical angle being the angle at which expansion of the shaft stops when pressurized internally, the movable portion increasing in length when the catheter is pressurized;the wire disposed within the shaft with the distal end of the balloon portion fixed to the guide wire;
the increase in length of the movable portion corresponding substantially to a decrease in length of the balloon portion when the catheter is pressurized so that the location of the balloon portion remains substantially at the position prior to expansion. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification