Catheter with distally distending balloon

• US 6,264,631 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ballard Medical Products (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Kenowski, Mike, Willis, Allan F., Christian, Kelly J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/372,133
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/28, 604/41, 604/48, 604/49, 604/54, 604/93, 604/96, 604/99, 604/103, 604/175, 604/257, 604/261, 604/264, 604/512, 604/907, 604/908, 604/910, 604/912, 604/915-917, 604/921, 604/96.01, 604/99.04, 604/103.06, 604/103.07, 604/103.08
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0042 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0065 Fixing means and tube being one part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

A balloon catheter having a balloon disposed upon an elongate shaft near a relatively rigid distal insertion tip, a fluid lumen for fluid communication with a body cavity and an inflation lumen for fluid communication with the balloon. The balloon holds the catheter tip within a body cavity such as the stomach for long-term enteral feeding. The balloon is configured such that upon inflation, the balloon distends distally to cover the distal tip thus insulating it from sensitive anatomy.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising;

a distal tip, a fliuid lumen for fluid communication with a body cavity, a circumference, and an inflation lumen for fluid communication with a balloon; and

a balloon attached at opposing ends to the elongate shaft so as to be disposed at the distal tip of the elongate shaft said balloon disposed coaxially about the shaft and attached to the circumference cooperatively to form an enclosure and further comprising at least one biasing ring extending radially about the circumference of the balloon, said biasing ring being configured to limit radial expansion of the balloon to bias the periphery of the balloon in the direction of the tip.

2. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one biasing ring comprises a plurality of concentric rings extending inwardly from the balloon.

3. The balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the uninflated balloon comprises an elastomeric tube and the plurality of concentric rings comprise thickened portions of the tube.

4. The balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the most distal concentric ring transposes in radial orientation to the shaft upon inflation of the balloon, thereby distending the balloon over a portion of the shaft distal to the previously uninflated balloon and biasing a portion of the balloon radially toward the distal shaft portion.

5. The balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the plurality of concentric rings include at least two rings disposed along the central portion of the balloon to limit radial expansion of the central portion of the balloon and thereby form proximal and distal lobes.

6. A balloon catheter comprising:

an elongate shaft having a fluid lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, a distal tip and an outer circumference; and

a balloon attached to said circumference proximal to the tip, the balloon having biasing means extending inwardly from the balloon to limit radial expansion of the balloon such that inflation of the balloon causes a portion of the balloon to distend distally over the distal tip.

7. The balloon catheter of claim 6 wherein the balloon further comprises a coaxial annular restraint adjacent a distal end of the balloon, which restraint radially transposes upon inflation of the balloon with a predetermined volume of fluid and biases a portion of the balloon in a distal and axial direction.

8. The balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the balloon comprises a first end attached to the outer circumference at a first annulus, and a second end attached to the outer circumference at a second annulus and a tubular length, and wherein said tubular length is greater than a longitudinal distance between the first and second annuluses.

9. The balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the balloon comprises a proximal portion having a plurality of annular restraints extending inwardly from the balloon.

10. A balloon catheter comprising:

a longitudinal shaft having a lumen in fluid communication with a catheter tip; and

a tubular balloon having first and second ends each attached to the catheter shaft, said balloon coaxially aligned with the shaft and fastened to the shaft at the first end a distance from the tip, and at the second end a greater distance from the tip;

means for causing distal longitudinal migration of the balloon adjacent the shaft upon filling the balloon with a predetermined volume of fluid said means for causing distal longitudinal migration comprising at least one annual ring formed integrally with the balloon and extending inwardly from the balloon, said at least one annular ring being disposed to limit radial expansion of the balloon.

11. The balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein the migration means comprises a plurality of coaxial annular restrains formed in the proximal half of the balloon.

12. The balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein the balloon further comprises an elastomer material which is thicker at a proximal end of the balloon and thinner at a distal end of the balloon.

13. The balloon catheter of claim 10, wherein the migration means comprises a coaxial annular restraint which radially transposes upon inflation of the balloon and baises a portion of the balloon in distal and axial direction.