Dilatation catheter with transition member

• US 5,387,225 A
• Filed: 12/12/1991
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Keith, Peter T., Euteneuer, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CERMAK, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US07/806,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95-103, 606/192-196, 600/18
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0034 characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores making of catheters A61M25/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0079 Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1061 having separate inflations tubes, e.g. coaxial tubes or tubes otherwise arranged apart from the catheter tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1077 having a system for expelling the air out of the balloon before inflation and use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A fixed wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A metal core member of smaller outer diameter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section. The proximal end of the balloon is connected either to the distal end of the metal tube or to an intermediate waist tube, with the core extending distally from the metal tube through the balloon. The distal end of the balloon is secured to the core. A vent arrangement is provided to purge the catheter of gases prior to use.

Claims

1. An angioplasty catheter comprising:

a shaft segment defined by a metal tube, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a balloon;

a thermoplastic shaft segment connected between the distal end of the shaft and the balloon;

the shaft segments having an inflation lumen defined therethrough to provide inflation pressure to the balloon;

a core member having varying flexibility along its length, part of the core member being disposed in the thermoplastic shaft segment and extending distally from a point of attachment proximate the distal end of said metal shaft through said balloon wherein the flexibility of said core member increases distally both within said thermoplastic shaft segment and said balloon; and

,

a tubular member wherein the core member comprises a solid wire core attached to said tubular member and said tubular member includes an end which defines an opening to the exterior of the catheter shaft.

2. An angioplasty catheter comprising:

a shaft segment defined by a metal tube, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a balloon;

a thermoplastic shaft segment connected between the distal end of the shaft and the balloon;

the shaft segments having an inflation lumen defined therethrough to provide inflation pressure to the balloon;

a transition member comprising a solid core member, the core member having multiple sections of decreasing outer diameter in the distal direction, said sections of decreasing outer diameter lying within both said thermoplastic shaft segment and said balloon, part of the transition member being disposed in the thermoplastic shaft segment and connected proximate the distal end of said shaft segment and extending distally from the metal shaft through said balloon; and

,

a tubular member wherein the core member comprises a solid wire core attached to said tubular member and said tubular member includes an end which defines an opening to the exterior of the catheter shaft.