Stiffened dilatation catheter and method of manufacture

• US 4,775,371 A
• Filed: 09/02/1986
• Issued: 10/04/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Mueller, Richard L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reilly, Colleen
• Application Number:
  US06/903,029
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103, 604/280, 604/282, 604/22, 604/96, 604/97-102, 604/105, 604/106, 604/104, 128/344, 128/305, 128/303.17, 128/348.1
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1029 Production methods of the balloon members, e.g. blow-moulding, extruding, deposition or by wrapping a plurality of layers of balloon material around a mandril
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1036 Making parts for balloon catheter systems, e.g. shafts or distal ends A61M25/1029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Stiffened dilation catheter and method of manufacturing the same. The catheter has a relatively stiff proximal end portion formed by bonding a relatively stiff tubular member coaxially within the proximal end portion of a relatively soft outer tubular member. The outer tubular member has a distensible portion which forms an inflatable balloon. An inner tubular member or shaft having an axial lumen adapted to receive a guide wire is positioned coaxially within the other tubular members. The distal end portions of the inner and outer tubular members are sealed together to close the distal end of the balloon, and an annular passageway for inflating and deflating the balloon is formed between the outer wall of the inner member and the inner wall of the stiffened proximal end portion of the outer tubular member. The relative wall thicknesses of the inner and outer tubular members can be varied to provide any desired stiffness or profile of stiffness along the length of the catheter.

Claims

1. A dilatation catheter comprising an inner tubular member having an axially extending lumen for receiving a guide wire a relatively stiff intermediate tubular member, a relatively flexible outer tubular member disposed coaxially about the intermediate tubular member and shrunk-fit thereon, the outer tubular member having a distensible portion forming an inflatable balloon near the distal end thereof, the inner tubular member and the outer and intermediate tubular members defining an annular passageway for inflation fluid from the proximal ends thereof to the interior of the inflatable balloon, and the distal end portions of the inner and outer tubular members being sealed together to close the distal end of the balloon, the relatively stiff intermediate tubular member therefore extending distally from the proximal end of the outer tubular member for a distance of about 25-95% of the length of the outer tubular member.

2. The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the combined wall thickness of the portion of the outer tubular member shrunk-fit onto the relatively stiff tubular member is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the distal end portion of the outer tubular member.

3. The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the relatively stiff tubular member decreases in wall thickness toward the distal end of the catheter.

4. The dilatation catheter of claim 3 wherein the outer tubular member has a wall thickness which increases toward the distal end of the catheter.

5. The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the outer tubular member is formed of polyethylene.

6. The dilatation catheter of claim 5 wherein the relatively stiff tubular member is formed from a polyethylene having a higher density than the polyethylene from which the outer tubular member is formed.