Balloon catheter for dilatation and perfusion

• US 5,505,702 A
• Filed: 05/16/1995
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Arney, Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/442,081
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96, 604/101, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/101.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1095 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation while the balloon is in an inflated state or in a deflated state, e.g. permanent by-pass within catheter shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A dilatation balloon catheter capable of creating perfusion passages during balloon inflation is formed by a plurality of cooperating expandable members disposed at a distal end of a catheter shaft, thereby forming a composite balloon. The expandable members are generally side-by-side, and are supported at the distal end of the shaft by at least one support member, which is connected between a distal end of the composite balloon and the catheter shaft. Distal ends of the expandable members are sealed and united within a tubular connector; proximal ends of the expandable members are bonded within and communicate with an inflation lumen at the distal end of the shaft. The outer surfaces of the inflatable members cooperate to dilate the wall of an artery. The outer surfaces of the inflatable members further define two sinuses adjacent to the juxtaposed outer surfaces of the inflatable members, which permit passive perfusion of blood through the composite balloon during a dilatation procedure.

Claims

1. An angioplasty catheter for dilatation of a blood vessel, the catheter comprising:

a tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a first expandable member disposed at the distal end of the tubular shaft, the first expandable member having a first proximal region with an open proximal end, a first intermediate expandable region and a first distal region with a distal end;

a second expandable member disposed at the distal end of the tubular shaft and juxtaposed to the first expandable member, the second expandable member having a second proximal region with an open proximal end, a second intermediate expandable region and a second distal region with a distal end, the first and second expandable members being sized so that upon inflation the first and second expandable members interact to dilate the blood vessel and create fluid flow passages between outer surfaces of the first and second expandable members and a wall of the blood vessel, wherein the open proximal ends of the first and second proximal regions are generally aligned and communicate with the lumen of the tubular shaft and the distal ends of the first and second distal regions are positioned distally of the distal end of the shaft, and are generally aligned and sealed together;

means connected to the first distal region of the first expandable member and the shaft for supporting the first and second expandable members, and;

at least one guide wire supporting means located external and proximate to the first and second expandable members for guiding the catheter along a guide wire.

2. An angioplasty catheter for dilatation and perfusion of a blood vessel, the catheter comprising:

a tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, for carrying and supplying inflation fluid;

a composite balloon having a first expandable member and a second expandable member, each expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end, the second expandable member juxtaposed to the first expandable member, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second expandable members are generally aligned and open to accept inflation fluid and bonded within the distal end of the tubular shaft and wherein the distal ends of the first and second expandable members are positioned distally of the distal end of the shaft, and are generally aligned and sealed together;

at least one fluid flow passage located between a wall of the blood vessel and outer surfaces of the first and second expandable members when inflated to dilate the blood vessel;

means connected between a distal end of the composite balloon and the shaft for supporting the first and second expandable members and;

a guide wire support attached to the distal ends of the first and second expandable members.

3. A method for widening an obstructed region of a blood vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter having a tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough for carrying and supplying inflation fluid to a composite balloon, the composite balloon having a first expandable member and a second expandable member, each expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end, the second expandable member juxtaposed to the first expandable member, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second expandable members are generally aligned and open to accept inflation fluid, and wherein the distal ends of the first and second expandable members are positioned distally of the distal end of the shaft and are generally aligned and sealed together, the proximal ends of the first and second expandable members attached to the distal end of the tubular shaft, and means connected between the distal end of the composite balloon and the shaft for supporting the first and second expandable members;

inserting the catheter into the blood vessel such that the composite balloon is aligned with the obstructed region; and

inserting inflation fluid into the tubular shaft such that the first and second expandable members expand to dilate the obstructed region and at least one fluid flow passage is located between a wall of the blood vessel and the outer surfaces of the first and second expandable members so that blood can perfuse through the fluid flow passage while the obstructed region is dilated.