Fluid delivery system for a balloon catheter

• US 6,348,048 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Schneider (Europe) GmbH (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Perrins, John, Andrea, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/317,497
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 604/98, 604/97, 604/99, 604/100, 604/67, 604/151, 604/34, 604/104, 604/95, 604/500, 604/509, 604/98.01, 604/97.01, 604/97.02, 604/97.03, 604/99.01, 604/99.02, 604/99.03, 604/100.01, 604/95.01
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The balloon catheter has a portion of its tubular shaft sequentially squeezed between a ram reciprocating in a box and a saddle arranged in a cover closely fitting on the box. The pressurised fluid medium supplied to the balloon is pulsated by the squeeze and release action of the ram and saddle arrangement.

Claims

1. A method of expanding an intravascular stent comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter having a balloon disposed on a distal end thereof;

providing an intravascular stent mounted on the balloon;

providing a pulsating pressure source coupled to the balloon catheter;

activating the pulsating pressure source to cause the balloon to pulsate during the expansion of the balloon; and

expanding the stent in radial increments by applying a pulsating force to the stent with the pulsating balloon.

2. A method of expanding an intravascular stent as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prior to activating the pulsating source, inflating the balloon with the stent disposed thereon; and

expanding the stent with the balloon such that the stent engages an intravascular wall.

3. A method of expanding an intravascular stent comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter having a balloon disposed on a distal end thereof, wherein the balloon catheter includes an elongate shaft;

providing an intravascular stent mounted on the balloon;

providing a pulsating pressure source coupled to the balloon catheter;

activating the pulsating pressure source to squeeze the elongate shaft causing the balloon to pulsate; and

expanding the stent in radial increments by applying a pulsating force to the stent with the pulsating balloon.

4. A method of expanding an intravascular stent as in claim 3, wherein activating the pulsating pressure source comprises sequentially squeezing and releasing the shaft.

5. A method of expanding an intravascular stent as in claim 4, wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a saddle, farther comprising the step of placing the shaft in the saddle.

6. A method of expanding an intravascular stent as in claim 5, wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a ram, and wherein activating the pulsating pressure source comprises displacing the ram to engage the shaft disposed in the saddle.

7. A method of expanding an intravascular stent as in claim 6, wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a cam, and wherein displacing the ram comprises rotation of the cam to engage the ram.

8. A method of expanding an intravascular stent with a balloon catheter comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter with an expandable balloon mounted thereon;

providing a stent; and

providing pulsated pressurized inflation fluid to the expandable balloon during the expansion of the balloon to cause the stent to expand in radial increments.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the stent is expanded in small radial increments.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the stent is a balloon expandable stent.

11. A system for expanding an intravascular stent, the system comprising:

a balloon catheter having a balloon disposed on a distal end thereof wherein the balloon catheter includes a shaft;

an intravascular stent mounted on the balloon; and

a pulsating pressure source fluidly coupled to the balloon wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a saddle sized to accommodate the shaft, and wherein the pulsating pressure source causes the balloon to pulsate and apply a pulsating force to the stent.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a ram to engage the shaft disposed in the saddle.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the pulsating pressure source includes a cam to engage the ram.