Overlay dual balloon catheter and method for use thereof

• US 5,868,776 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vascutech Acquisition LLC (LeMaitre Vascular, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ideas For Medicine, Inc. (Vasutech, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US08/707,186
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192-196, 604/96, 604/104
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1015 having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

An overlay dual balloon catheter. Two balloons composed of differing materials are employed, the balloons being disposed so as to overlap one another but not being bonded to one another, so that adjacent surfaces of the two balloons are permitted to move relative to one another, to provide improved surface and structural characteristics in a balloon unit. Preferably, an outer balloon, disposed on the exterior of the catheter is composed of latex, silicone, or a thermoplastic elastomer while an inner balloon, disposed underneath the first balloon is composed of a material employed in existing angioplasty balloons such as polyester or polyurethane. The overlay dual balloon catheter may be used in angioplasty, embolectomy and thrombectomy.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter, comprising:

a catheter having a lumen therein;

an inner balloon disposed around a portion of said catheter, said inner balloon having an outer surface and said catheter having an aperture therein for fluid communication between said lumen and said inner balloon, for inflating said inner balloon; and

an outer balloon having an inner surface, said outer balloon being disposed over said inner balloon so that said inner surface of said outer balloon and said outer surface of said inner balloon remain substantially in contact with, and are movable relative to, one another during said inflating.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said inner balloon and said inner surface of said outer balloon lie substantially coextensively in contact with one another.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon is attached at opposing ends circumferentially around said catheter so as to form respective fluid-tight seals.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein said outer balloon is attached at opposing ends circumferentially around said catheter so as to form respective fluid-tight seals.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein said outer balloon is attached to opposing ends around said respective opposing ends of said inner balloon.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elasticity of said outer balloon is higher than the elasticity of said inner balloon.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the tensile strength of said inner balloon is greater than the tensile strength of said outer balloon.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein said outer balloon provides higher surface friction than said inner balloon.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tensile strength of said inner balloon is greater than the tensile strength of said outer balloon.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer balloon provides higher surface friction than said inner balloon.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein, in an uninflated state, said outer balloon is under a predetermined amount of tension relative to said inner balloon.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon comprises a polyethylene.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon comprises a nylon.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon comprises a polyamide.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner balloon comprises a polyvinylchloride.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer balloon comprises a latex.

18. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer balloon comprises a silicone.

19. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer balloon comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

20. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the space between said outer surface of said inner balloon and said inner surface of said outer balloon is substantially sealed from fluid communication with space outside of said outer balloon.

21. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the space between said outer surface of said inner balloon and said inner surface of said outer balloon is substantially sealed from fluid communication with space inside said inside balloon.

22. A balloon catheter, comprising:

a catheter having a lumen therein;

an inner balloon disposed around a portion of said catheter, said catheter having an aperture therein for fluid communication between said lumen and said inner balloon; and

an outer balloon disposed over said inner balloon, wherein in an uninflated state of said inner balloon, said outer balloon is under a predetermined amount of tension relative to said inner balloon.

23. The catheter of claim 22, wherein said inner balloon has an outer surface and said outer balloon has an inner surface, and wherein said outer surface of said inner balloon and said inner surface of said outer balloon are movable relative to one another while remaining substantially in contact with one another.

24. The catheter of claim 22, wherein said inner balloon is attached at opposing ends circumferentially around said catheter so as to form respective fluid-tight seals.

25. The catheter of claim 24, wherein said outer balloon is attached at opposing ends circumferentially around said catheter so as to form respective fluid-tight seals.

26. The catheter of claim 25, wherein said outer balloon is attached to opposing ends around said respective opposing ends of said inner balloon.

27. The catheter of claim 22, wherein the elasticity of said outer balloon is greater than the elasticity of said inner balloon.

28. The catheter of claim 22, wherein the tensile strength of said inner balloon is greater than the tensile strength of said outer balloon.

29. The catheter of claim 22, wherein said outer balloon provides higher surface friction than said inner balloon.