Protective sheath for catheter balloons
First Claim
1. A heat shrinkable polymeric balloon sheath for a catheter balloon, comprising an inner lumen with a minimum inner diameter before heat shrinkage which is at least 125% larger than a maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon and after heat shrinkage which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon so that the sheath after heat shrinkage is configured to be tightly fitting around a circumference of the uninflated catheter balloon, and having a proximal section, a distal section, and a continuous cylindrical section extending from the proximal section to the distal section of the sheath, and a weakened sheath wall portion along at least a length thereof to provide tear away characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polymeric heat shrinkable tubular sheath for mounting about a balloon on a dilatation catheter by heat treating at a temperature which does not detrimentally effect the properties of the balloon to shrink the sheath onto the balloon. The tubular sheath is preferably heated to a temperature above body temperature, e.g. 40<100° C., preferably less than 85° C., to heat shrink the sheath onto the balloon. A presently preferred polymeric material is a copolymer of ethylene(75%) and methyl acrylate (25%). The heat shrinkable sheath has an inner lumen with minimum dimensions large enough to facilitate the advancement of the sheath over the exterior of a dilatation balloon without the need for a great deal of manual manipulation by the physician or other operator prior to heat shrinking.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A heat shrinkable polymeric balloon sheath for a catheter balloon, comprising an inner lumen with a minimum inner diameter before heat shrinkage which is at least 125% larger than a maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon and after heat shrinkage which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon so that the sheath after heat shrinkage is configured to be tightly fitting around a circumference of the uninflated catheter balloon, and having a proximal section, a distal section, and a continuous cylindrical section extending from the proximal section to the distal section of the sheath, and a weakened sheath wall portion along at least a length thereof to provide tear away characteristics.
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11. A sheath for a catheter balloon having an elongated cylindrical working section, comprising:
a heat shrinkable polymeric balloon sheath disposed about the elongated cylindrical working section of the balloon, having an inner lumen with a minimum inner diameter before heat shrinkage which is at least 125% larger than a maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon and after heat shrinkage which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon so that the sheath after heat shrinkage is configured to be tightly fitting around a circumference of the uninflated catheter balloon, and having a proximal section, a distal section, and a continuous cylindrical section extending from the proximal section to the distal section of the sheath, and a weakened sheath wall portion along at least a length thereof to provide tear away characteristics.
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12. A sheathed catheter balloon, comprising
a) a catheter balloon having an elongated cylindrical working section; - and
b) a heat shrinkable polymeric balloon sheath disposed about the elongated cylindrical working section of the balloon, having an inner lumen with a minimum inner diameter before heat shrinkage which is at least 125% larger than a maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon and after heat shrinkage which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the uninflated catheter balloon so that the sheath after heat shrinkage is configured to be tightly fitting around a circumference of the uninflated catheter balloon, and having a proximal section, a distal section, and a continuous cylindrical section extending from the proximal section to the distal section of the sheath, and a weakened sheath wall portion along at least a length thereof to provide tear away characteristics.
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Specification