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Valvuloplasty catheter and method

  • US 4,819,751 A
  • Filed: 10/16/1987
  • Issued: 04/11/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a through lumen, a tube extending through the through lumen and movable axially in the through lumen relative to the catheter body and having a distal end portion extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter body, and a radially expandable and axially contractable balloon having opposite end portions coupled, respectively, to the catheter body and the distal end portion of the tube and inflatable through the catheter body whereby inflation of the balloon from a relaxed uninflated condition expands the balloon radially and contracts the balloon axially, the improvement comprising:

  • said catheter body having a distal end portion at least partially within the balloon which is less stiff than the region of the catheter body proximally of the distal end portion of the catheter body to avoid an abrupt change of stiffness within the balloon, said catheter body including a main body and said distal end portion of said catheter body being a separate member and being joined to the main body of the body.

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