Focalized intraluminal balloons

• US 5,843,116 A
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CardioVascular Dynamics, Inc. (Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CardioVascular Dynamics, Inc. (Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crocker, Michael, Shimada, Lynn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/742,437
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 606/194, 606/192, 606/198, 606/108, 604/96
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1059 having different inflatable sections mainly depending on the response to the inflation pressure, e.g. due to different material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1075 having a balloon composed of several layers, e.g. by coating or embedding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1084 having features for increasing the shape stability, the reproducibility or for limiting expansion, e.g. containments, wrapped around fibres, yarns or strands
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Disclosed is a focal balloon having at least one reference zone and a focal zone. In one embodiment, the reference zone and focal zone are inflatable to a first generally cylindrical profile at a first pressure. At a second, greater pressure, the focal section expands to a second, greater diameter, while the reference zone remains substantially at the first diameter. In an alternate embodiment, the focal zone and the reference zone are inflatable to their respective predetermined diameters at the inflation pressure, in the absence of constricting lesions or anatomical structures. Multiple lobed and drug delivery embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter, comprising:

an elongate, flexible tubular body having proximal and distal ends;

an inflatable balloon on the distal end of the tubular body; and

an inflation lumen extending through the tubular body and communicating with the inflatable balloon;

wherein the balloon has a generally cylindrical first zone inflatable to a first diameter and a generally cylindrical second zone distal to the first zone and inflatable to a second, larger diameter.

2. A balloon catheter as in claim 1, further comprising at least one expansion limiting band on the first zone.