Catheter for the introduction of an expandable member
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- a catheter tube having;
an open proximal end and an open distal end;
first and second catheter tube portions, respectively having first and second outer diameters, said first and second catheter tube portions being positioned adjacent to each other with said first tube portion being positioned adjacent said distal end of said catheter tube,said first outer diameter of said first catheter tube portion being smaller than the second outer diameter of said second catheter tube portion; and
at least one side opening in said first catheter tube portion, said at least one side opening being in communication with said open proximal end of said catheter tube;
a hub portion communicating with said open proximal end of said catheter tube;
a check valve coupled to said hub portion; and
an expansion holder for holding open an inner diameter portion of an internal cavity of a tubular organ of a patient, said expansion holder comprising a shape memory alloy having a substantially cylindrical shape which radially expands and contracts with changes in temperature;
said expansion holder covering at least a portion of said first catheter tube portion adjacent said at least one side opening; and
said expansion holder when unexpended, having an outer diameter which does not exceed said second outer diameter of said second catheter tube portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter includes a cylindrical expansion holder detachable from its distal end portion to temporarily or permanently expand and hold an inner diameter of an internal cavity of a blood vessel or any other tubular organ. The outer diameter of the distal end portion of the catheter which supports the expansion holder is much smaller than that of other catheter portions. Even if the cylindrical expansion holder is supported on the small-diameter portion, the outer diameter of the expansion holder is equal to or smaller than that of other catheter portions. The expansion holder is made of a shape memory alloy which can radially expand or contract in accordance with changes in temperature. The expansion holder can expand or contract by supplying a warm or cool solution from side holes formed in the distal end portion of the catheter and bringing this solution into contact with the expansion holder.
287 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A catheter comprising:
-
a catheter tube having; an open proximal end and an open distal end; first and second catheter tube portions, respectively having first and second outer diameters, said first and second catheter tube portions being positioned adjacent to each other with said first tube portion being positioned adjacent said distal end of said catheter tube, said first outer diameter of said first catheter tube portion being smaller than the second outer diameter of said second catheter tube portion; and at least one side opening in said first catheter tube portion, said at least one side opening being in communication with said open proximal end of said catheter tube; a hub portion communicating with said open proximal end of said catheter tube; a check valve coupled to said hub portion; and an expansion holder for holding open an inner diameter portion of an internal cavity of a tubular organ of a patient, said expansion holder comprising a shape memory alloy having a substantially cylindrical shape which radially expands and contracts with changes in temperature; said expansion holder covering at least a portion of said first catheter tube portion adjacent said at least one side opening; and said expansion holder when unexpended, having an outer diameter which does not exceed said second outer diameter of said second catheter tube portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification