Vascular catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter comprising:
- a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends, the distal end being insertable into a blood vessel;
an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end;
means for inflating the balloon to provide a volume of inflation medium therein; and
means for convectively heating the inflation medium in the balloon to a temperature in the range from about 40°
C. to 80°
C. above normal body temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved balloon-tipped catheter includes means for convectively heating the inflation medium within the balloon during dilation. In the preferred embodiment, the convective heat is provided by a radiant heating block which is attached to a laser light source through an optical waveguide extending the length of the catheter. The convectively heated balloon promotes restoration and healing of the arterial wall in the region of stenosis, which region normally suffers from cracking, tearing, and stretching. It has been found that damage to the arterial wall can sometimes result in abrupt closure of the artery and frequent restenosis in the same region.
468 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends, the distal end being insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end; means for inflating the balloon to provide a volume of inflation medium therein; and means for convectively heating the inflation medium in the balloon to a temperature in the range from about 40°
C. to 80°
C. above normal body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A catheter comprising:
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a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends and at least two isolated lumens extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the distal end is insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end, said balloon being arranged to receive an inflation medium from one of said lumens to provide a volume of inflation medium within the balloon; a heat radiating block secured to the tube within the inflatable balloon; a laser radiation source; and a fiber optic waveguide connected to said laser radiation source and disposed to direct radiation at the block in order to convectively heat the inflation medium inside the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for dilating an obstructed blood vessel, said method comprising:
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inserting a balloon catheter into the blood vessel so that the balloon is proxiamte the obstruction; inflating the balloon to dialate the obstruction, wherein the dilation may also tear the endothelium from the intima of the blood vessel; convectively heating a volume of inflation medium within the balloon to a temperature in the range from about 40°
C. to 80°
C. above normal body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification