Textured and/or marked balloon for stent delivery

• US 6,736,841 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Tracee, Musbach, Frank, Yang, Wang Leng, Zachman, Kent James
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US10/209,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103.08, 604/103.01, 604/103.07, 604/103.1, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30322 differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0026 differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1031 Surface processing of balloon members, e.g. coating or deposition; Mounting additional parts onto the balloon member's surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• 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: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]

Abstract

Desired portions of a balloon may be marked by varying the texture of the surface. Marking the balloon facilitates positioning of the balloon on a catheter and facilitates positioning a medical device on the balloon.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a medical balloon, having an external surface, a first end, a second end and a middle portion positioned midway between the first end and second end with at least one position marker thereon to indicate the position of the middle portion, the at least one position marker comprising a textured portion of the external surface;

providing a catheter for mounting the balloon thereon;

aligning the position marker with a desired portion of the catheter so as to position the balloon; and

bonding the balloon to the catheter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting the aligned stent on the balloon.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing the medical balloon with a second reference marking so as to identify at least one portion of the medical balloon other than the middle portion.