Focalized intraluminal balloons

• US 6,120,523 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiance Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Crocker, Michael, Shimada, Lynn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/203,228
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 606/192, 606/194, 606/108, 606/198, 604/96, 604/101, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• 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 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1027 Making of balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1029 Production methods of the balloon members, e.g. blow-moulding, extruding, deposition or by wrapping a plurality of layers of balloon material around a mandril
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1034 Joining of shaft and balloon
• 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 method of sizing a stent within a body lumen of a patient, comprising the steps of:

locating a stent positioned within a body lumen;

providing a stent sizing catheter of the type having an elongate tubular body with a stent sizing balloon on a distal end thereof, said balloon comprising a proximal zone and a distal zone each inflatable to a first diameter and a central zone inflatable to a second, larger diameter;

positioning the catheter such that the central zone is within the stent;

inflating the balloon such that the central zone inflates to a greater diameter than the proximal and distal zones, deflating the balloon; and

withdrawing the catheter from the patient.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said inflating step comprises inflating the balloon such tat the central zone is at least about 0.2 mm in diameter greater than the distal zone.

3. A method of implanting a tubular stent within a body lumen of a patient, comprising the steps of:

locating a treatment site with a body lumen;

providing a stent delivery catheter of the type having an elongate tubular body with a stent delivery balloon on the distal end thereof, said balloon comprising a proximal zone and a distal zone each inflatable to a first diameter and a central zone inflatable to a second, larger diameter, and a stent positioned on the central zone;

positioning the catheter such that the central zone is within the treatment site;

inflating the balloon such that the central zone inflates to a greater diameter dm the proximal and distal zones, thereby expanding the stent inside the treatment site;

deflating the balloon; and

withdrawing the catheter from the patient.