Dilatation catheter assembly with heated balloon
First Claim
1. A balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof, the catheter comprising:
- (a) an elongated tubular member which has an inflation lumen extending therein;
(b) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon on a distal portion of the tubular member which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending therein;
(c) a singular, electrically conductive pathway which is coextensive with a substantial part of the working portion of the balloon and in radially conductive heat transfer relationship therewith and which has two ends adapted to be connected to an electrical power source in order to pass electrical current therethrough;
(d) a source for electrical current at a frequency of at least about 100 kilohertz; and
(e) means connected to the two ends of the electrical conductive pathway to pass electrical current therethrough from the source to resistively heat the conductive pathway and thereby increase the temperature of the part of the working portion of the inflatable balloon which is coextensive with the electrically conductive pathway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon dilatation catheter having means to raise the temperature of the working surface of the balloon while the balloon is being inflated during an angioplasty procedure. In one embodiment, the balloon is provided with a thin electrically conductive layer in heat transfer relationship therewith preferably on the interior surface of the balloon. Electrical power at radio frequencies is preferred and a coaxial cable is employed to deliver such power to a conductive layer for heating the balloon. In another embodiment, the balloon itself is formed of electrically conductive material. A perfusion lumen may be provided through the balloon with one or more proximal inlet ports and one or more distal discharge ports in fluid communication with the lumen to allow blood to pass through the balloon when it is inflated during angioplasty procedures. This facilitates the flow of oxygenated blood distally of the catheter when the balloon is inflated thus allowing for extended balloon inflations, e.g., up to 30 minutes or more.
240 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof, the catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongated tubular member which has an inflation lumen extending therein; (b) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon on a distal portion of the tubular member which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending therein; (c) a singular, electrically conductive pathway which is coextensive with a substantial part of the working portion of the balloon and in radially conductive heat transfer relationship therewith and which has two ends adapted to be connected to an electrical power source in order to pass electrical current therethrough; (d) a source for electrical current at a frequency of at least about 100 kilohertz; and (e) means connected to the two ends of the electrical conductive pathway to pass electrical current therethrough from the source to resistively heat the conductive pathway and thereby increase the temperature of the part of the working portion of the inflatable balloon which is coextensive with the electrically conductive pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24)
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14. A balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilatation thereof, comprising:
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(a) an elongated tubular member having an inflation lumen extending therein; (b) a flexible, relatively inelastic balloon on the distal portion of the tubular member having an interior which is adapted to receive inflating fluid from the inflation lumen within the tubular member; (c) means to elevate the temperature of atheroma within the patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof when the balloon is inflated; (d) a perfusion lumen extending through at least the interior of the balloon; (e) one or more inlet ports in the tubular member proximal to the balloon in fluid communication with the perfusion lumen which extends through the balloon; and (f) one or more discharge ports in the tubular member distal to the balloon in fluid communication with the perfusion lumen extending therethrough, whereby oxygenated blood may pass through the inlet ports and the perfusion lumen extending through the balloon and out the discharge ports so as to flow distally to the catheter when the balloon is inflated within a patient'"'"'s artery.
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15. A balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof, the catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongated tubular member having an inflation lumen extending therein; (b) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon having a cylindrically shaped working section when inflated on a distal portion of the tubular member which is formed at least in part of electrically conductive plastic material and which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending therein to inflate the balloon and press the exterior surface of the working section thereof against atheroma adjacent thereto; and (c) means to pass electrical current through the electrically conductive portions of the balloon to resistively heat the balloon and thereby increase the temperature of the exterior surface of the working section of the inflatable balloon.
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16. A steerable balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof, the catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongated tubular member which has an inflation lumen extending therein; (b) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon on a distal portion of the tubular member which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending therein; (c) a torquable guide member which is secured within the catheter and which extends through the interior of the balloon and out the distal end thereof; (d) a flexible body which is disposed about the portion of the guide member which extends out the distal end of the balloon; (e) a singular, electrically conductive pathway which is coextensive with a substantial part of the working portion of the balloon in a radially conductive heat transfer relationship therewith and which has two ends adapted to be connected to an electrical power source in order to pass electrical current therethrough; and (f) means connected to the two ends of the electrical conductive pathway to pass electrical current therethrough from the source to resistively heat the conductive pathway and thereby increase the temperature of the part of the working portion of the inflatable balloon which is coextensive with the electrically conductive pathway. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of treating a stenotic region of a patient'"'"'s artery over an extended period of time, comprising:
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(a) advancing a dilatation balloon catheter through the patient'"'"'s arterial system until the balloon of the catheter is disposed within the stenotic region; (b) inflating the balloon to dilate the stenotic region thereby occluding the patient'"'"'s artery; (c) applying heat to the stenotic region while the balloon is dilating the stenotic region; and (d) perfusing blood through a lumen which passes through the interior of the balloon to maintain blood flow to tissue distal to the catheter.
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25. A steerable balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilatation thereof, the catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongated tubular member which has an inflation lumen extending therein; (b) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon on the distal portion of the tubular member which has a cylindrically shaped working section when inflated and which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending through the tubular member; (c) an electrically conducting guide member which extends through the interior of the balloon and out the distal end thereof; (d) a flexible body disposed about and secured to the portion of the guide member which extends out the distal end of the balloon; (e) an electrically resistive heating means in a heat transfer relationship with the working portion of the balloon; (f) a source for electrical current at a frequency above about 100 kilohertz; and (f) means to pass electrical current from the source through the guide member to the electrically resistive heating means to raise the temperature thereof and thereby heat the working portion of the inflatable balloon. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of dilating a stenotic region of a patient'"'"'s artery over an extended period of time, comprising:
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(a) providing a balloon dilatation catheter having means to apply heat to atheroma within a patient'"'"'s artery during the dilation thereof, the catheter including; (i) an elongated tubular member which has an inflation lumen extending therein; (ii) a flexible, relatively inelastic inflatable balloon on a distal portion of the tubular member which is adapted to receive inflation fluid from the inflation lumen extending therein; (ii) an electrically conductive means which forms an electrically conductive pathway for electrical current coextensive with a substantial part of the working portion of the balloon and in radially conductive heat transfer relationship therewith; (iii) a source for electrical current at a frequency at least about 100 kilohertz; and (iv) means to pass the electrical current from the source through the electrically conductive pathway to resistively heat the conductive means and thereby increase the temperature of the working portion of the inflatable balloon; (b) advancing the dilatation balloon catheter through the patient'"'"'s arterial system until the balloon of the catheter is disposed within the stenotic region; (c) inflating the balloon to dilate the stenotic region thereby occluding the patient'"'"'s artery; (d) applying heat to the stenotic region while the balloon is inflated to dilate the stenotic region by directing the electrical current from the source thereof through the electrical conducting pathway to resistively heat up the conductive means and thereby the working portion of the balloon.
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Specification