Perfusion catheter having a cylindrical array of balloons

• US 5,458,575 A
• Filed: 04/08/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maglione, Corrine M.
• Application Number:
  US08/224,910
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96, 604/101, 604/102, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/101.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1075 having a balloon composed of several layers, e.g. by coating or embedding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A perfusion catheter for insertion into a body conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (5) having at least two lumens for delivery of fluid inflation medias and an array (1) formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable balloons (3) disposed in a cylindrical array around the shaft (5), each of the balloons (3) sharing a common wall (3a) with adjacent balloons (3). The balloons (3) are inflated by an array (1) of channels (11) and separated from each other by a web (19). There is at least one opening (17) between two adjacent channels (11) to allow the flow of fluids into the array (1). An internal chamber (31) is formed inside the array (1) by the movement of a wall (30) over the axis of the catheter whereby to enable a substantial increase of inflation forces against the body conduit in which the catheter is disposed.

Claims

1. A perfusion catheter for insertion into a body conduit and engagement thereof, said catheter comprising:

a shaft having at least two lumens for delivery of fluid inflation media;

a cylindrical array of radially disposed inflatable balloons disposed adjacent said shaft, said array having an inner and an outer surface, each balloon having a proximal end, said outer surface being adapted to engage said body conduit;

means to form a temporarily inflatable internal chamber within said cylindrical array, the force of inflation urging against said array of inflatable balloons;

means to inflate each of the balloons in said array, said means including a plurality of channels, each channel being in fluid flow relationship with one of said balloons and one of said lumens;

means to inflate temporarily said internal chamber, said internal chamber inflation means being in fluid flow relation with another of said lumens whereby to receive inflation fluid from said another lumen; and

at least one opening between two adjacent channels to allow the flow of body fluids from one side of said cylindrical array, within said cylindrical array and thence out the other side when said internal chamber is not inflated.

2. The perfusion catheter according to claim 1 wherein the internal chamber is formed by a wall within said array, said wall being movable from adjacent one side of said array to the other side by the introduction of inflation fluid from said another lumen whereby to engage said inner surface to form said internal chamber and provide additional force for said catheter against said body conduit.

3. The perfusion catheter according to claim 1 wherein said channels extend to the proximal end of each of the balloons and the channels are separated from each other by webs whereby to form a proximal intermediate member.

4. The catheter according to claim 3 wherein the channels are separated from each other by a web, said web being disposed between adjacent channels, at least one of said webs having an opening therein to allow the flow of body fluids through said array and said chamber.

5. The catheter according to claim 4 wherein the channels and the webs together form a proximal intermediate member.

6. The catheter according to claim 5 further including a distal intermediate member attached to said array, said distal intermediate member having an opening therein to provide for the flow of body fluids.

7. The catheter according to claim 6 wherein said shaft extends through both said proximal and distal intermediate members.

8. The catheter according to claim 7 wherein said proximal intermediate member is joined to said shaft by a hub, said hub forming a manifold with a lumen in said shaft whereby fluid flow communication between said channels and said lumen is provided.

9. A catheter which allows the passage of blood through a body conduit while an array attached thereto is inflated, said catheter comprising:

a shaft having an internal lumen for the introduction of an inflation fluid;

a radially expandable, inflatable array of balloons attached to each other to form a cylinder disposed around said shaft, said array having an interior surface and a body conduit engaging surface the balloons of said array extending parallel to said shaft;

means to form a temporarily inflatable internal chamber within said cylindrical array, said internal chamber being adapted to engage and transmit force to said interior surface and thus to said body engaging surface;

means for connecting said array to said internal lumen of said shaft for enabling the introduction of inflation media to the balloons of said array and means for inflating said internal chamber; and

,

means for allowing the flow of body fluids between said shaft and said interior surface whereby the flow of body fluids through said conduit will not be prevented when said array is inflated and said internal chamber is not inflated.

10. The catheter according to claim 9 wherein the means for connecting the shaft to the cylindrical array of balloons are a plurality of channels spaced from each other by webs.

11. The catheter according to claim 10 wherein the means for allowing the flow of body fluids is at least one hole in a web between adjacent channels.