Balloon catheter with balloon protection sheath

• US 5,702,410 A
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klunder, Rento Willem, Van Werven-Franssen, Gerda Hendrika Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/651,926
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/108, 606/191-195, 604/96-101, 604/280
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The balloon catheter comprises a basic tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. A balloon member is arranged on the distal end and, close to the balloon member, is arranged an elongate, elastic balloon protection sheath. A pull thread is connected to an end of the sheath facing toward the balloon member and extends to the proximal end of the basic tubular body. The sheath can be pulled over the balloon member by pulling the pull thread.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising a basic tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end, a balloon member which is arranged on the distal end, an elongate, elastic balloon protection sheath which is arranged on or in the basic tubular body close to the balloon member and at least one pull thread connected to the end of the sheath facing toward the balloon member, the at least one pull thread extending to the proximal end of the basic tubular body for being pulled to pull the sheath over the balloon member.

2. The catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon protection sheath is elastically stretchable in a longitudinal direction and is fixedly connected to the basic tubular body with the end of the sheath which is remote from the balloon member.

3. The catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the basic tubular body has at least one lumen therein and the pull thread is guided through the lumen.

4. The catheter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the balloon protection sheath is arranged close to the relatively proximal end of the balloon member and the pull thread first extends from the balloon protection sheath in distal direction, is then guided to the lumen through an orifice at the distal end of the basic tubular body and subsequently extends through the lumen to the proximal end of the basic tubular body.

5. The catheter as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two pull threads, each connected to one end of the sheath and acting in opposing directions.

6. The catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon protection sheath is made of woven material.

7. The catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon catheter has a sheath receiving space in the basic tubular body for receiving the sheath when it is not being used and pull thread means are provided for moving the sheath out of and into the space.