Multiple-wing balloon catheter to reduce damage to coated expandable medical implants

• US 7,160,317 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Timothy, Weber, Jan, Mc Hale, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TAN-UYEN THI
• Application Number:
  US10/035,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.1, 623/1.13, 623/1.23, 623/1.42, 606191-192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/108, 604/96.01, 604/103.05, 604/103.06, 604/103.08, 604/103.14
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1004 Balloons with folds, e.g. folded or multifolded
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1027 Making of balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1038 Wrapping or folding devices for use with balloon catheters

Abstract

Method and system for reducing the damage to a coated medical implant during the expansion of the coated implant is provided. The method may include providing a coated medical implant, providing a balloon catheter having a multi-wing balloon, the multi-wing balloon having at least four expandable folds, and crimping the medical implant onto the multi-wing balloon. The system may include a coated medical implant and a multi-wing balloon catheter having at least four expandable wings, the expandable wings in contact with the coating of the medical implant.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a coated medical implant delivery system, the method comprising:

providing an internally coated medical implant having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the implant at least partially coated with a coating;

providing a balloon catheter having a multi-wing balloon, the multi-wing balloon having a plurality of expandable folds;

providing an elastic membrane sized to surround the expandable folds of the multi-wing balloon, the elastic membrane having a coating on an inside surface and on an outside surface;

positioning the elastic membrane around the expandable folds of the multi-wing balloon; and

positioning the medical implant around the elastic membrane after the elastic membrane has been positioned around the multi-wing balloon.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

crimping the coated medical implant around the elastic membrane and onto the multi-wing balloon.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

treating a surface of the folds of the multi-wing balloon to reduce friction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein treating a surface of the folds of the multi-wing balloon to reduce friction includes polishing the balloon.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein treating a surface of the folds of the multi-wing balloon to reduce friction includes heating the balloon.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the treatment includes coating the elastic membrane and wherein the implant is a stent.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-wing balloon expands in a sweeping spiral fashion.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastic membrane comprises a latex.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating of the medical implant includes a bio-compatible polymer and a therapeutic agent.