Stent delivery system featuring a flexible balloon
First Claim
1. A flexible radially expandable stent delivery tool for supporting and locating a collapsed stent within a body lumen and expanding the stent when desired, the delivery tool comprising in combination:
- an inflatable balloon having an interior enclosed by an outer surface, said outer surface extending radially from a central axis when said balloon is inflated;
said outer surface having at least two separate sections axially spaced from each other;
said outer surface having at least one notch between said at least two sections, said notch defining a portion of said balloon having a radial size less than a radial size of said outer surface at said at least two sections when said balloon is inflated; and
said outer surface supporting a radially expandable stent adjacent thereto, such that when said balloon is inflated, said stent is radially expanded.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible balloon 10 is provided for use in delivering and radially expanding a surgical stent 110. The flexible balloon 10 includes an interior which can be inflated with a fluid to expand the balloon 10 from a collapsed to an inflated radial size. The balloon 10 is formed with an outer surface 22 having a contour which includes a series of substantial cylindrical sections 20 spaced apart by notches 30. The notches 30 have a lesser radial size than that exhibited by the cylindrical sections 20. The notches 30 thus assist the balloon 10 in flexing to allow the balloon 10 to be passed through body lumens L having tight bends therein. A stent 110 is additionally disclosed which includes multiple separate segments 180. The segments 180 are sized to match axial length of the cylindrical sections 20 and are provided with greater flexibility axially between segments 180 than within segments 180 of the stent 110. Thus, areas of flexibility within the stent 110 align with areas of flexibility in the balloon 10. The flexible balloon 10 can either have cylindrical sections 20 of similar size or be configured as a tapering balloon 50 with both large sections 60 and small sections 70.
399 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A flexible radially expandable stent delivery tool for supporting and locating a collapsed stent within a body lumen and expanding the stent when desired, the delivery tool comprising in combination:
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an inflatable balloon having an interior enclosed by an outer surface, said outer surface extending radially from a central axis when said balloon is inflated; said outer surface having at least two separate sections axially spaced from each other; said outer surface having at least one notch between said at least two sections, said notch defining a portion of said balloon having a radial size less than a radial size of said outer surface at said at least two sections when said balloon is inflated; and said outer surface supporting a radially expandable stent adjacent thereto, such that when said balloon is inflated, said stent is radially expanded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radially expandable flexible balloon for insertion into a body lumen, the balloon comprising in combination:
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an interior surrounded by an outer surface, said outer surface extending radially from a central axis when said balloon is inflated by a fluid passed into said interior; said outer surface having at least two separate sections axially spaced from each other; said outer surface having at least one notch between said at least two sections, said notch defining a portion of said balloon having a radial size less than a radial size of said outer surface at each of said at least two sections when said balloon is inflated; said at least two sections having a radial size different from each other when radially expanded; and said at least two sections sharing said interior, such that said sections are inflated and deflated together;
wherein said outer surface supports a radially expandable stent adjacent thereto, such that when said balloon is inflated, said stent is radially expanded; andwherein said stent includes at lest two separate segments, each said segment having a different radial size after radial expansion of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A flexible stent delivery system comprising in combination:
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an inflatable balloon having an interior surrounded by an outer surface, said outer surface extending radially from a central axis when said balloon is inflated; said outer surface having at least two separate sections axially spaced from each other; said outer surface having at least one notch between said at least two sections, said notch defining a portion of said balloon having a radial size less than a radial size of said outer surface at said at least two sections when said balloon is inflated; and a radially expandable stent having a first collapsed radial size matching a radial size of said outer surface at said sections before said balloon is inflated and a second expanded radial size matching a radial size of said outer surface of said sections after said balloon is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification