Balloon catheter with improved pressure source

• US 6,190,354 B1
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Arnold, John E., Humphrey, John W., Adams, Daniel O., Lafontaine, Daniel M., Mertens, Steven P., Sell, Jonathan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/812,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/97.01, 604/97.03, 604/99.01, 604/99.02, 604/99.03, 604/100.01, 604/264, 604/523, 604/532, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0001 for pressure measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0003 having an additional lumen transmitting fluid pressure to the outside for measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1018 Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10187 Indicators for the level of inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A balloon catheter which has an elongate shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end and a manifold connected to its proximal end. The manifold may be fixedly or removably attached to the shaft and includes a barrel with a plunger movably disposed inside it. The barrel has an internal volume of less than 5 cc and an internal diameter of less than 0.25 inches. A pressure transducer may be mounted to the manifold to permit measurement via a sensor tube.

A pressure source for a balloon catheter including a barrel with a plunger inside it. The barrel is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen of the catheter and has an internal volume less than 5 cc and an internal diameter of less than 0.25 inches. A pressure sensor may be connected to the barrel with a sensor tube defining a fluid path from the interior of the barrel to the pressure sensor. A lock mechanism may be connected to the barrel to control longitudinal movement of the plunger.

Pressure sources for balloon catheters with an adjusted P/ΔV of 4000 atm/cu.in. or more and preferably 6000 atm/cu.in. or more over a pressure range of 5 to 15 atm.

Connection tubes for connecting a pressure source to a balloon catheter with an adjusted P/ΔV of 6000 atm/cu.in. or more (or an adjusted P/ΔV by unit length of 90×10³ atm/sq.in. or more) and preferably 8000 atm/cu.in. or more (or an adjusted P/ΔV by unit length of 110×10³ atm/sq.in. or more) over a pressure range of 5 to 15 atm.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter insertable into a living body, comprising:

(a) an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therethrough;

(b) an inflatable balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and

(c) a manifold connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the manifold having a barrel containing a plunger movably disposed therein, the barrel being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the barrel having an internal volume less than 5 cc and an internal diameter of less than 0.25 inches.

2. A balloon catheter as in claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a pressure sensor connected to the manifold; and

(e) a sensor tube connected to the manifold, the sensor tube defining a fluid path from the interior of the barrel to the pressure sensor.

3. A balloon catheter as in claim 2 wherein the sensor tube is coaxially disposed about the barrel.

4. A balloon catheter as in claim 2 wherein the sensor tube is disposed adjacent to the barrel.

5. A balloon catheter as in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 further including a lock mechanism connected to the barrel to control longitudinal movement of the plunger.