Balloon catheter and method of mounting same

• US 7,892,201 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Inventors: Campbell, Carey V., Laguna, Alvaro J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US09/384,900
• Time in Patent Office: 4,197 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/103, 604/103.05, 604/103.06, 604/103.09, 604/103.11, 604/103.12, 604/912, 604/915
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• 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 25/1034 Joining of shaft and balloon
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4825 Pressure sensitive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4835 Heat curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/484 Moisture curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4845 Radiation curing adhesives, e.g. UV light curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5042 covering both elements to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/68 using auxiliary shrinkable elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/534 Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/12 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/18 PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene , e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7543 Balloon catheters

Abstract

The present invention provides improved methods for forming and mounting a sleeve on a catheter shaft in order to form a distensible balloon catheter. The balloon is formed from a distensible sleeve that is treated to render one or both of its ends essentially non-distensible. The balloon is mounted on the catheter shaft by the non-distensible ends, without compromising the distensible operative portion of the balloon. The balloon may also be mounted using non-distensible tape or similar means to achieve a similar result.

Claims

1. A sleeve adapted to be mounted on a catheter shaft so as to be formed into an inflatable balloon comprising

the sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a middle section;

wherein prior to being formed into the balloon by mounting on the catheter shaft at least one of the ends is non-distensible while the middle section of the sleeve is distensible.

2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is mounted on a catheter shaft to form an inflatable balloon.

3. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the sleeve forms a liquid-tight seal at the ends to the catheter shaft.

4. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the at least one end is tape wrapped to render it non-distensible.

5. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the at least one end has a coating to render it non-distensible.

6. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the at least one end has a modified structure that renders it non-distensible.

7. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the at least one end is covered with an essentially non-distensible material to render it non-distensible.

8. The sleeve of claim 7 wherein the essentially non-distensible material comprises a reinforcing collar.

9. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the at least one end is attached with adhesive to a non-distensible material to render it non-distensible.

10. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a fluoropolymer.

11. The sleeve of claim 10 wherein the fluoropolymer comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene.

12. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the at least one end is tape wrapped to render it non-distensible.

13. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the at least one end has a coating to render it non-distensible.

14. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the at least one end has a modified structure that renders it non-distensible.

15. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the at least one end is covered with an essentially non-distensible material to render it non-distensible.

16. The sleeve of claim 15 wherein the essentially non-distensible material comprises a reinforcing collar.

17. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the at least one end is attached to a non-distensible material to render it non-distensible.

18. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein the sleeve comprises a fluoropolymer.

19. The sleeve of claim 18 wherein the fluoropolymer comprises a polytetafluoroethylene.