Pre-formed expandable member having grooves

• US 6,478,807 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Limon, Timothy A., Foreman, Philip C., Saunders, Richard J., Teaby, Gregory W. II, Svensson, Björn G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Vinod D
• Application Number:
  US09/590,478
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 606/194, 606/192, 606/195, 606/198, 606/108, 604/101.02, 604/96.01, 604/101.01, 604/101.03, 604/101
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

A catheter assembly is provided for use in delivering and implanting a stent in a body lumen, such as in a coronary artery. An elongated catheter body includes an expandable member or balloon having a folded configuration and an expanded configuration wherein a plurality of pre-formed grooves extending generally circumferentially around the balloon when the balloon is in its folded configuration. An intravascular stent is removably crimped over the balloon and is at least partially retained on the balloon by the grooves. Upon inflation of the balloon, the grooves will flatten out thereby releasing the stent and allowing the stent to expand radially outwardly into contact with the body lumen or coronary artery.

Claims

1. An intravascular catheter, comprising:

an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one lumen extending therein;

an expandable member having a folded configuration and an expanded configuration and positioned proximate the distal end of the catheter, the expandable member being in fluid communication with the at least one lumen; and

a plurality of preformed grooves extending circumferentially around the expandable member when the expandable member is in the folded configuration.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves provide an irregular surface when the expandable member is in the folded configuration.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves are defined by peaks and valleys.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the peaks of the grooves define an outer surface of the expandable member.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the radial outward distance from the peaks to the valleys is in the range of about 0.01 mm to 1.5 mm.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves are uniformly spaced long the expandable member.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves define a helical pattern along the expandable member.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the grooves define an annulus on the expandable member.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves substantially flatten when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is formed from a polymeric material taken from the group of materials consisting of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and other relatively inelastic polymers and other materials.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the grooves are preformed when the expandable member is blow-molded.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter and the expandable member are formed from the same polymeric material.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen extending from the catheter proximal end to the catheter distal end.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen extending from the catheter proximal end to a point proximal of the catheter distal end.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is configured to receive an intravascular stent.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is blow-molded from the catheter body.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is attached to the catheter body using an adhesive.

30. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen extending from the catheter proximal end to the catheter distal end.

31. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen extending from the catheter proximal end to a point proximal of the catheter distal end.

32. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is configured to receive an intravascular stent.

18. A catheter assembly for use in delivering and implanting a stent in a body lumen, comprising:

an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one lumen extending therein;

an expandable member having a folded configuration and an expanded configuration and positioned proximate the distal end of the catheter, the expandable member being in fluid communication with the at least one lumen; and

a plurality of preformed grooves extending circumferentially around the expandable member when the expandable member is in the folded configuration; and

a stent removably crimped over the expandable member and at least partially retained thereon by the grooves.

19. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves provide an irregular surface when the expandable member is in the folded configuration.

20. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves are defined by peaks and valleys.

21. The catheter assembly of claim 20, wherein the peaks of the grooves define an outer surface of the expandable member.

22. The catheter assembly of claim 21, wherein the distance from the peaks to the valleys is in the range of about 0.01 mm to 1.5 mm.

23. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves are uniformly spaced along the expandable member.

24. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves define a helical pattern along the expandable member.

25. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein each of the grooves define an annulus on the expandable member.

26. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves substantially flatten when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration.

27. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the expandable member is formed from a polymeric material taken from the group of materials consisting of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and other relatively inelastic polymers and other materials.

28. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the grooves are preformed when the expandable member is blow-molded.

29. The catheter assembly of claim 18, wherein the catheter and the expandable member are formed from the same polymeric material.

33. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the expandable member is blown from the catheter body.

34. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the expandable member is attached to the catheter body using an adhesive.