Balloon catheter with improved pressure source
First Claim
1. A balloon catheter insertable into a living body, comprising:
- (a) an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
(b) an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft; and
(c) a pressure source connected to the shaft, the pressure source including means for limiting balloon over-expansion when the balloon is inflated to dilate a restriction and the restriction yields at a relatively high inflation pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon catheter having a long shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end with a pressure source connected to the shaft at an invivo point which operates to inflate and deflate the balloon. The balloon catheter may be a fixed-wire type, an over-the-wire type, or an single-operator-exchange type catheter. The pressure source may include a piston and a chamber with an actuation member attached to the piston. The actuation member may be a solid rod or a hollow robe. In the case where the actuation member is a hollow tube, the tube may be used to introduce inflation fluid into the pressure source and the inflation lumen. A receptacle such as a reel or tubular hoop may be used to contain the actuation member when pulled proximally. A pressure sensor/gauge and a balloon sizing scale may be incorporated into the catheter assembly to assist the treating physician in monitoring the procedure. A longitudinally oscillating drive, such as a solenoid, may be operatively connected to the pressure source.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A balloon catheter insertable into a living body, comprising:
-
(a) an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft; and (c) a pressure source connected to the shaft, the pressure source including means for limiting balloon over-expansion when the balloon is inflated to dilate a restriction and the restriction yields at a relatively high inflation pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of using a balloon catheter wherein the catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft; and
a pressure source connected to the shaft, the method comprising the steps of;(i) inserting the balloon catheter into a vascular system of a patient; (ii) positioning the balloon adjacent a treatment site inside the vascular system; (iii) actuating the pressure source to inflate the balloon to dilate a restriction such that the restriction yields at a relatively high inflation pressure but the balloon does not over-expand thereby reducing the potential for dissection or crack propagation; (iv) actuating the pressure source to at least partially deflate the balloon; and (v) withdrawing the balloon catheter from the vascular system. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
- an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft; and
Specification