Angioplasty dilatation balloon catheter/guidewire system
First Claim
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1. A dilatation balloon catheter/guidewire system, comprising:
- an outer member comprising a tubular catheter shaft and a balloon secured to the distal end of said tubular catheter shaft;
an inner tubular member extending through said balloon and secured to said outer member proximally and distally relative to said balloon; and
a guidewire extending through said tubular catheter shaft and said inner tubular member, said guidewire containing at least a first section and a second section proximal to, and of larger diameter than, said first section;
said inner tubular member being;
non-axially-collapsible and thereby maintaining said balloon in an axially extended condition, andresiliently radially expandable from a reduced-diameter condition sufficiently wide to receive said first section of said guidewire but not said second section, to an expanded-diameter condition sufficiently wide to receive said second section.
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Abstract
An angioplasty catheter system is disclosed which allows insertion and removal of a guidewire through the inner member of the catheter, yet which inner member includes a portion which is smaller than the cross-section of portions of the guidewire. Advancement and removal of the guidewire are achieved by forming the first portion of the inner member of the catheter shaft from material which is expandable, or which is sufficiently thin to be folded and temporarily secured in place using several techniques.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A dilatation balloon catheter/guidewire system, comprising:
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an outer member comprising a tubular catheter shaft and a balloon secured to the distal end of said tubular catheter shaft; an inner tubular member extending through said balloon and secured to said outer member proximally and distally relative to said balloon; and a guidewire extending through said tubular catheter shaft and said inner tubular member, said guidewire containing at least a first section and a second section proximal to, and of larger diameter than, said first section; said inner tubular member being; non-axially-collapsible and thereby maintaining said balloon in an axially extended condition, and resiliently radially expandable from a reduced-diameter condition sufficiently wide to receive said first section of said guidewire but not said second section, to an expanded-diameter condition sufficiently wide to receive said second section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification