Low profile perfusion catheter

• US 5,344,402 A
• Filed: 06/30/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CardioVascular Dynamics, Inc. (Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CardioVascular Dynamics, Inc. (Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crocker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kruter, J. L.
• Application Number:
  US08/084,820
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96, 604/95, 604/97-103, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/103.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1063 having only one lumen used for guide wire and inflation, e.g. to minimise the diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1075 having a balloon composed of several layers, e.g. by coating or embedding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1097 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation only while the balloon is in an inflated state, e.g. temporary by-pass within balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Disclosed is a Low Profile Perfusion Catheter, for use in coronary angioplasty applications. Preferably, the catheter is provided with an inflatable dilatation balloon, and a perfusion lumen extending therethrough. The diameter of the perfusion lumen is enlargable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter. In one embodiment, an axially movable tubular support is movable within the lumen from a proximal, insertion position to a distal perfusion position. In another embodiment, the support is radially expandable. In a further embodiment, a porus drug delivery balloon is provided.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter, comprising:

an elongate, flexible, tubular body;

an inflatable balloon on the tubular body, said balloon expandable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter; and

a perfusion conduit extending through said inflatable balloon, at least a portion of said perfusion conduit expandable from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter;

wherein said second, enlarged diameter of said perfusion conduit is larger than the first, reduced outer diameter of said deflated balloon.

2. A balloon catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a tubular support for maintaining said perfusion conduit in the second enlarged diameter.

3. A balloon catheter as in claim 2, wherein the support is movable from a first position proximal of the balloon to a second position within a portion of the perfusion conduit extending through the balloon.

4. A balloon catheter as in claim 3, further comprising a control for moving said support from the first to the second position.

5. A method of treating a site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter of the type having an elongate, flexible, tubular body, a dilatation balloon on the body, and at least one influent port on a first side of the balloon in fluid communication with at least one effluent port on a second side of the balloon, said influent and effluent ports in fluid communication with each other by way of a central lumen extending through the catheter;

positioning the catheter within a body lumen so that the balloon is adjacent a treatment site;

inflating the balloon to treat the site; and

holding the central lumen open to resist collapse and optimize fluid flow therethrough, wherein said holding step comprises positioning a support structure within the lumen to maintain patency of the lumen by moving the support structure from a proximal insertion position to a distal perfusion position within the central lumen.

6. A catheter comprising:

an elongate, flexible, tubular body;

a central lumen extending through at least a portion of the body;

at least one influent port extending through the wall of the tubular body and communicating with said central lumen;

at least one effluent port extending through the wall of the tubular body and communicating with the central lumen;

wherein the central lumen is expandable from a first, reduced fluid flow capacity to a second, increased fluid capacity; and

a support for maintaining the central lumen in the second, increased fluid flow capacity;

wherein said support is axially moveable from a first, proximal position to a second, distal position, wherein said distal position is within said central lumen.

7. A catheter as in claim 6, wherein said support comprises a spring coil.