Self-venting elastomeric balloon catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon catheter comprising a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one inflation lumen therethrough;
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Abstract
A balloon catheter comprises a catheter body having an elastomeric balloon at its distal end. The balloon has a small diameter vent hole disposed near its distal end. The balloon catheter may be prepared by flushing an inflation lumen and the interior of the balloon with a suitable liquid flushing medium, where the balloon is inflated by the flushing medium beginning at its proximal end and moving toward its distal end.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A balloon catheter comprising a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one inflation lumen therethrough;
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an elastomeric balloon disposed over the distal end of the catheter body to receive inflation medium from the inflation lumen, said balloon comprising an elastomeric membrane having at least one vent hole therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A balloon catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one inflation lumen therethrough; an elastomeric balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal and distal ends are circumferentially attached over the catheter body to define spaced-apart hinge regions as the balloon is inflated and wherein a vent hole is disposed in the balloon immediately adjacent the distal hinge region, so that inflation of the balloon deflects the balloon near the distal hinge region to open the vent hole. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. An improved balloon catheter of the type comprising a catheter body, a self-venting balloon on the catheter body, wherein the improvement comprises a balloon formed at least in part from an elastomeric membrane and having at least one vent hole through said elastomeric membrane.
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24. A method for venting an elastomeric balloon catheter, said method comprising:
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providing a balloon catheter having an elastomeric balloon with a vent hole therein; and inflating the balloon with a liquid medium to resiliently expand the balloon and vent gasses trapped in the balloon through the vent hole. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification