Balloon sheath
First Claim
1. A method of sizing a stent to an interior body lumen, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tubular balloon sheath;
inserting the balloon sheath coaxially between a dilatation balloon and a tubular stent; and
inflating the inflation balloon within the sheath so that the sheath constrains the dilatation balloon to a relatively noncompliant inflation profile.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a tuvular sheath which is adapted to fit coaxially over an inflatable balloon. The sheath functions to alter the expansion characteristics of the balloon. In one preferred embodiment, the sheath converts the inflation profile of a dilatation balloon from a compliant mode to a noncompliant mode. Advantageously, the balloon sheath may be used in stent placement procedures, to accurately size the stent within a body lumen, while providing protection against balloon rupture. In one embodiment, the balloon sheath comprises a two-layered tubular structure, with an outer elastic layer surrounding an inner inelastic layer. Also disclosed are methods of altering the expansion characteristics of a balloon using the balloon sheath.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of sizing a stent to an interior body lumen, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tubular balloon sheath; inserting the balloon sheath coaxially between a dilatation balloon and a tubular stent; and inflating the inflation balloon within the sheath so that the sheath constrains the dilatation balloon to a relatively noncompliant inflation profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification