Centering balloon catheter

• US 5,797,948 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunham, Susan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/770,610
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 604/101, 604/96, 606/194, 606/192, 600/7, 600/8
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1047 having centering means, e.g. balloons having an appropriate shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1003 having means for centering a radioactive source within the lumen, e.g. balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1002 Intraluminal radiation therapy

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The catheter has distal and proximal ends and is made from an elongated flexible shaft also having distal and proximal ends. The shaft has a central lumen extending therethrough which is substantially centered within the shaft. The shaft also having distal and proximal ends and further includes an inflation lumen. The catheter includes an inflatable, preferably non-compliant, outer balloon disposed at its distal end and an inflatable, preferably compliant, inner balloon disposed within the outer balloon. The inner balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof. The central lumen extends through the inner balloon. The inner balloon is a centering balloon, whereby when it is at least partially inflated the distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within the vessel.

Claims

1. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen;

b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

2. The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said outer balloon is less compliant than said inner balloon.

3. The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said central lumen is sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough.

4. The catheter according to claim 1 further including a guidewire lumen.

5. The catheter according to claim 4 wherein said guidewire lumen comprises a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

6. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; and

b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

7. The catheter according to claim 6 wherein said central lumen is sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough.

8. The catheter according to claim 6 further including a guidewire lumen.

9. The catheter according to claim 8 wherein said guidewire lumen comprises a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

10. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends and being sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said shaft further including an inflation lumen;

b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel; and

c. a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

11. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen;

b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising spiral balloon surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

12. The catheter according to claim 11 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-complaint and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

13. The catheter according to claim 12 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

14. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen;

b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a segmented balloon having a plurality of annular segments, said plurality of annular segments surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

15. The catheter according to claim 14 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-compliant and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

16. The catheter according to claim 15 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

17. A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising:

a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen;

b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a plurality of longitudinal segments, wherein each segment is substantially parallel to said inner shaft, said plurality of segments substantially surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

18. The catheter according to claim 17 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-compliant and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

19. The catheter according to claim 18 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.