Multi-wire multi-balloon catheter

• US 5,320,605 A
• Filed: 01/22/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvinder Sahota
• Original Assignee: Harvinder Sahota
• Inventors: Sahota, Harvinder
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/007,767
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/96, 604/49-54, 604/101, 604/264, 606/191-195
• US Class Current: 604/101.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Dilatation catheters for use in administering treatments to relieve stenotic regions within a body lumen are described. In one aspect of the invention, a two wire catheter system, of minimal diameter for treating distal arteries is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, a multiple wire multiple balloon system in disclosed, in which a first balloon on a first catheter is disposed distally of a second balloon on a second associated catheter. Additional balloons and associated catheters may also be incorporated into the multiple wire multiple balloon system. Methods are also discussed for accomplishing sequential dilatations using a multiple wire multiple balloon catheter.

Claims

1. A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter for treating a site within a body lumen, comprising:

a first elongate flexible wire;

a first dilatation balloon on said first wire, said first dilatation balloon having at least one lumen extending at least part way through the balloon from the proximal edge thereof towards the distal edge thereof;

a second elongate flexible wire; and

a second dilatation balloon on said second wire, said second wire having a distally extending advance wire on the distal side of said second balloon;

wherein at least a portion of the advance wire extends within the proximal opening of the lumen on said first balloon.

2. A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a lumen extending at least part way into said second balloon, from the proximal end thereof towards the distal end thereof;

and

a third elongate flexible wire having a third dilatation balloon thereon, said third wire having a distally extending advance wire on the distal side of the third balloon;

wherein the distal end of the advance wire on the third balloon extends at least part way into the lumen on the proximal end of said second balloon.

3. A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in claim 1, wherein said lumen extends axially throughout the entire length of said first dilatation balloon.

4. A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in wherein said second balloon has an inflated profile which is different than the inflated profile of the first balloon.

5. A method of exchanging two or more balloons within a site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple wire multiple balloon catheter of the type having a first balloon secured to a first flexible wire and a second balloon secured to a second flexible wire, said first balloon having a lumen extending therethrough;

positioning said first balloon within a preselected body site;

inflating said first balloon to dilate said site; and

thereafter exchanging the relative positions of said first and second balloons by advancing said second balloon axially through the lumen in said first balloon.

6. A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of deflating said first balloon prior to the step of advancing the second balloon axially therethrough.

7. A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of withdrawing the first balloon in a proximal direction following evacuation thereof.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein said exchanging step comprises advancing said second balloon distally.

9. A method as in claim 5, wherein said exchanging step comprises retracting said first balloon proximally.

10. A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of positioning said second balloon.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said positioning step comprises positioning said second balloon at the same site where the first balloon was dilated.

12. A method of sequential dilatation of a preselected site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

introducing a multiple balloon multiple wire catheter into said body lumen, said catheter comprising at least a first dilatation balloon mounted on a first flexible wire and a second dilatation balloon mounted on a second flexible wire, wherein the distal end of the second flexible wire is releasably secured with respect to the first dilatation balloon;

positioning the first dilatation balloon at a preselected site;

dilating the first dilatation balloon to radially expand said site;

deflating said first balloon;

axially displacing said first balloon in a distal direction with respect to said second balloon thereby disengaging the distal tip of said second wire from said first balloon; and

thereafter withdrawing said first balloon in a proximal direction.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of positioning said second balloon within the body site.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising the step of dilating said second balloon.

15. A balloon catheter for releasably engaging at least one other balloon catheter for insertion into a body lumen as a single unit but which is capable of simultaneous or sequential dilatation of a preselected site with two or more distinct balloons;

said catheter comprising;

an elongate flexible wire;

an inflatable balloon on the wire, in fluid communication with at least one inflation lumen extending axially through the catheter; and

an engagement structure on the catheter for engaging the distal tip of a second balloon catheter of the type having an elongate flexible wire and at least one inflatable balloon thereon.

16. A balloon catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure is on the balloon.

17. A balloon catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure is on the catheter shaft.

18. A catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure comprises an opening on the proximal end of said first dilatation balloon.

19. A dilatation catheter as in claim 18, wherein said opening is in communication with a lumen extending axially throughout the length of the first balloon.

20. A dilatation catheter as in claim 18, together in combination with a second dilatation catheter of the same structure, wherein the distal tip of said second dilatation catheter is engaged within the opening on the proximal end of said first dilatation balloon.

21. A method of relieving stenotic regions of a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

inserting into said body lumen a first dilation catheter having a first balloon, and an axially elongate first wire, so that only a small advance wire segment extends beyond the distal end of said first balloon, said first balloon having at least one lumen extending axially therethrough;

simultaneously inserting into said body lumen a second catheter having a second balloon, and an axially elongate wire extending through said second catheter, said second dilatation catheter positioned so that said second balloon trails the proximal shoulder of said first balloon during insertion;

injecting a suitable pressurized fluid through said first catheter into said first balloon so as to increase the size of said first balloon;

deflating said first balloon;

withdrawing said first dilatation catheter with respect to said second catheter so that said second balloon is disposed in a relatively distal position; and

inflating said second balloon.