Dilatation catheter with stiffening wire

• US 6,368,302 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Collins, Denyse, Fitzmaurice, Thomas K., Duane, Patrick J. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Michael M.
• Application Number:
  US09/136,330
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-99, 604/523-5, 604/526, 604/528, 604/102-1-1, 604/103, 604/103-1-1, 604/103.09
• US Class Current: 604/103.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0098 having a strain relief at the proximal end, e.g. sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1079 having radio-opaque markers in the region of the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A Balloon dilation catheter comprising an elongated tubular shaft and an inner tube defining inflation and guide wire lumens. A dilation balloon is mounted on the distal end of the tubular shaft and communicates with the inflation lumen. The guide wire lumen extends through the balloon. A stiffening wire is positioned within the tubular shaft and has a proximal end secured in the proximal portion of the catheter. The distal end of the stiffening wire is anchored within the inner tube in an area adjacent the guide wire entrance port. The stiffening wire maximizes strength to the proximal portion of the catheter while maintaining flexibility in the distal end of the catheter as well as the balloon.

Claims

1. A dilatation catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular shaft comprising a distal shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said distal shaft overlapping said distal end of said proximal shaft and a guide wire port for entry of a guide wire into said distal shaft;

a balloon attached to said distal shaft;

an inner tube extending within said tubular shaft from a point proximal of said guide wire port within said proximal shaft through said distal shaft to a point distal of said guide wire port, said inner tube including an opening adjacent said guide wire port to enable a guide wire to be introduced into and extend through said inner tube through said guide wire port and said opening, said inner tube including a wire retention section adjacent said opening, said inner tube being bonded to said tubular shaft, with a space between said inner tube and tubular shaft providing an inflation lumen for said balloon wherein said inner tube, proximal shaft and distal shaft are made of thermoplastic material in the region of said guide wire port, said proximal shaft and inner tube are thermally bonded to said distal shaft to form a fused laminate, said proximal shaft also including an opening adjacent the guide wire port to enable a guide wire to be introduced into said inner tube, and wherein a passageway extends through said fused laminate from said proximal shaft to said inflation lumen; and

a stiffening wire positioned within said tubular shaft, said stiffening wire having a distal end permanently anchored in said wire retention section.

2. A dilatation catheter according to claim 1, wherein said wire retention section is thermally bonded to said stiffening wire.

3. A dilatation catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said dilatation catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular shaft having a guide wire port for entry of a guide wire;

a balloon attached to said tubular shaft;

an inner tube extending within said tubular shaft from a point proximal of said guide wire port to a point distal of said guide wire port, said inner tube including an opening adjacent said guide wire port to enable a guide wire to be introduced into and extend through said inner tube through said guide wire port, said inner tube including a wire retention section adjacent said opening, said inner tube being bonded to said tubular shaft to retain said inner tube relative to said tubular shaft, with a space between said inner tube and tubular shaft providing an inflation lumen for said balloon wherein said inner tube and tubular shaft are made of thermoplastic material and in the region of said guide wire port, said inner tube is thermally bonded to said tubular shaft to form a fused laminate, said tubular shaft also including an opening adjacent the guide wire port to enable a guide wire to be introduced into said inner tube, and wherein a passageway extends through said fused laminate from the interior of said tubular shaft to said inflation lumen; and

a stiffening wire positioned within said tubular shaft, said stiffening wire having a distal end permanently anchored to said inner tube in said wire retention section within said inner tube.

4. A dilation catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said dilation catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular shaft comprising a distal section and a proximal section and having a lumen extending therethrough, said tubular shaft defining a guide wire port between said proximal section and said distal section for entry of a guide wire into said distal section wherein said elongated tubular shaft includes an inner tube which extends from a point proximal of the guide wire port to a point distal of the guide wire port;

a balloon attached to said distal section of said shaft;

a stiffening wire positioned within said lumen of said proximal section and having a distal end permanently anchored within said distal section of said shaft distally of said guide wire port; and

a radiopaque coil spring disposed with the balloon and around the inner tube.