Intra-aortic balloon catheter having an ultra-thin stretch blow molded balloon membrane

• US 6,213,975 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datascope Corporation (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Datascope Corporation (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Laksin, Olga
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/545,763
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/103.12, 604/97.01, 604/99.01, 604/100.03, 604/103.06, 604/103.07, 604/107, 604/103
• US Class Current: 604/103.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• 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: B29C 2949/08 Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/00 Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

An intra-aortic balloon catheter having an ultra-thin stretch blow molded balloon membrane. The balloon membrane is made from thermoplastic elastomeric and/or semicrystalline materials such as but not limited to polyurethane and polyetheramid.

Claims

1. An intra-aortic balloon catheter comprising an outer tube with proximal and distal ends, and a stretch blow molded balloon membrane with a proximal end connected to the distal end of the outer tube, said balloon membrane having been stretched without creating significant crystallization to substantially eliminate stretchability under balloon inflation pressures of approximately 2-4 psi.

2. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon membrane is at least partially composed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material.

3. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon membrane is at least partially composed of a semicrystalline material.

4. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon membrane is at least partially composed of a thermoplastic elastomeric semicrystalline material.

5. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon membrane is at least partially composed of polyurethane.

6. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the balloon membrane is at least partially composed of polyetheramid.

7. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the balloon membrane is made from polyurethane.

8. The intra-aortic balloon catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intra-aortic balloon catheter further comprises an inner tube at least partially disposed within an outer surface of the outer tube, a distal end of said inner tube being connected to a distal end of the balloon membrane.

9. An intra-aortic balloon catheter comprising an outer tube with proximal and distal ends, and a stretch blow molded polyurethane balloon membrane with a proximal end connected to the distal end of the outer tube, said balloon membrane having been stretched without creating significant crystallization to substantially eliminate stretchability under balloon inflation pressures of approximately 2-4 psi.