Balloon dilatation catheter having a torsionally soft component

• US 5,417,658 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: VandenEinde, David A., Loney, Carol
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/257,475
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96, 604/95, 604/101-104, 604/280, 604/283, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/102.02
• 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 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A non-over-the-wire catheter for use in angioplasty including a core wire which extends distally beyond a distal end of a tubular member. The tubular member defines an interior passage which is in fluid communication with a distal interior passage of a waist tube that extends about the core wire. An inflatable balloon member extends about the core wire and is in fluid communication with the distal interior passage of the waist tube. A torsionally soft component is coupled between the balloon member and the core wire. The torsionally soft component absorbs torque applied to the tubular member and conveyed along the core wire such that the torque is not readily transmitted to the balloon member from the core wire.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a tube having a through passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end;

a guiding member having a proximal end and a distal end, with the guiding member extending distally beyond the distal end of the tube;

an inflatable balloon member extending around a section of the guiding member and having an interior in fluid communication with the through passage of the tube, the balloon member including a proximal end sealably connected to the distal end of the tube and a distal end; and

a torsionally soft component coupled between the balloon member and the guiding member, closely adjacent the balloon member, the torsionally soft component absorbing torque which is applied through the guiding member such that the torque is not readily transmitted to the balloon member from the guiding member.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the tube includes:

an elongate flexible tubular member having an interior passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and

a flexible waist tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the waist tube having its proximal end sealably connected to the tubular member, the waist tube extending distally beyond the distal end of the tubular member about the guiding member to define a distal interior passage in fluid communication with the interior passage of the tubular member.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the torsionally soft component is a torsionally flexible tubular element having a proximal end and a distal end.

4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the proximal end of the tubular element is secured to the distal end of the balloon member and the distal end of the tubular element is secured to the guiding member, such that the tubular element extends distally beyond the distal end of the balloon member.

5. The catheter of claim 4 wherein the distal end of the balloon member has an inner circumferential surface to which the proximal end of the tubular element is secured.

6. The catheter of claim 4 wherein the proximal and distal ends of the tubular element are secured to the balloon member and guiding member, respectively, by an adhesive material.

7. The catheter of claim 6 wherein the adhesive material is epoxy.

8. The catheter of claim 6 wherein the adhesive material is cyanoacrylate.

9. The catheter of claim 3, and further including:

a flexible, helical coil member having a proximal end and a distal end, the coil member being mounted on the distal end of the guiding member distally of the distal end of the tubular element.

10. The catheter of claim 9, and further including:

a shaping ribbon extending between and connecting the distal end of the coil member to the distal end of the guiding member.

11. The catheter of claim 10 wherein a first fused joint connects the distal end of the coil member to the shaping ribbon, and wherein a second fused joint couples the proximal end of the coil member to the distal end of the guiding member.

12. The catheter of claim 1, and further including:

a substantially rigid inner sleeve coupled between the distal end of the balloon member and the torsionally soft component.

13. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the inner sleeve has a proximal end, a distal end and a through lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the inner sleeve and is configured to freely receive the guiding member, such that the guiding member can rotate relative to the inner sleeve upon the application of torque through the guiding member.

14. The catheter of claim 13 wherein the torsionally soft component is a torsionally flexible tubular element having a proximal end, a distal end and a through opening that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular element, the guiding member extending through the through opening of the tubular element.

15. The catheter of claim 14 wherein the inner sleeve extends proximally from the distal end of the balloon member, wherein the distal end of the tubular element is secured to the proximal end of the inner sleeve and wherein the proximal end of the tubular element is secured to the guiding member, such that the tubular member extends proximally from the proximal end of the inner sleeve.

16. The catheter of claim 15 wherein the proximal and distal ends of the tubular element are secured to the guiding member and inner sleeve member, respectively, by an adhesive material.

17. The catheter of claim 16 wherein the adhesive material is epoxy.

18. The catheter of claim 16 wherein the adhesive material is cyanoacrylate.

19. The catheter of claim 13, and further including:

a flexible, helical coil member having a proximal end and a distal end, the coil member being mounted on the distal end of the guiding member distally of the distal ends of the balloon member and inner sleeve.

20. The catheter of claim 19, and further including:

a shaping ribbon extending between and connecting the distal end of the coil member to the distal end of the guiding member.

21. The catheter of claim 20 wherein a first fused joint connects the distal end of the coil member to the shaping ribbon, and wherein a second fused joint couples the proximal end of the coil member to the distal end of the guiding member.

22. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is formed of a super elastic alloy.

23. In a catheter system having a guiding member and an inflatable balloon member extending around a section of the guiding member, the improvement comprising:

a torsionally soft component having a proximal end secured to the balloon member and a distal end secured to the guiding member, such that the tubular member extends distally beyond the distal end of the balloon member, the torsionally soft component absorbing torque which is applied through the guiding member such that the torque is not readily transmitted to the balloon member from the guiding member.