Catheter with enhanced flexibility
First Claim
1. An intravascular balloon catheter comprising:
- a) an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, an inflation lumen extending therein and a guidewire receiving lumen extending through at least a distal portion of the elongated shaft;
b) a proximal shaft section having proximal and distal ends and a portion of the inflation lumen, the distal end of the proximal shaft section being tapered in the distal direction to smaller transverse dimensions;
c) a distal shaft section having a distal end, a port in the distal end, at least part of the guidewire receiving lumen extending within the distal shaft section to the port in the distal end, and at least part of the inflation lumen extending within the distal shaft section to a location proximal to the distal end of the distal shaft section;
d) an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft section having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen therein; and
e) an intermediate shaft section extending between the proximal and distal shaft sections and having a tubular reinforcing member within the tubular reinforcing member and with the proximal end of the tubular reinforcing member secured to a distal extremity of the proximal shaft section proximal to the distal end of the proximal shaft section and the distal end of the tubular reinforcing member being secured within the inflation lumen in the distal shaft section.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon catheter system generally having an elongated catheter shaft with enhanced flexibility to facilitate more distal advancement within a patient'"'"'s body lumen. The catheter shaft has a relatively stiff proximal shaft section, a relatively flexible distal shaft section and an intermediate shaft section which provides a smooth, flexible transition between the proximal and distal shaft sections. The intermediate shaft section has an improved construction with a tubular reinforcing member secured by its proximal end to the distal extremity of the proximal shaft section and a distal end secured within the proximal end of the distal shaft section. The tubular reinforcing member preferably has an inner tubular support member which has a proximal end secured to the distal end of the proximal shaft section. Preferably, the proximal shaft section has an outer jacket which extends over the tubular reinforcing member of the intermediate shaft section. Dual lumen and concentric distal shaft sections are describes. Additionally, over-the-wire constructions are described in which the inner and outer tubular members forming part of the distal shaft section extend the length of the catheter.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An intravascular balloon catheter comprising:
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a) an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, an inflation lumen extending therein and a guidewire receiving lumen extending through at least a distal portion of the elongated shaft;
b) a proximal shaft section having proximal and distal ends and a portion of the inflation lumen, the distal end of the proximal shaft section being tapered in the distal direction to smaller transverse dimensions;
c) a distal shaft section having a distal end, a port in the distal end, at least part of the guidewire receiving lumen extending within the distal shaft section to the port in the distal end, and at least part of the inflation lumen extending within the distal shaft section to a location proximal to the distal end of the distal shaft section;
d) an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft section having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen therein; and
e) an intermediate shaft section extending between the proximal and distal shaft sections and having a tubular reinforcing member within the tubular reinforcing member and with the proximal end of the tubular reinforcing member secured to a distal extremity of the proximal shaft section proximal to the distal end of the proximal shaft section and the distal end of the tubular reinforcing member being secured within the inflation lumen in the distal shaft section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification