Bifurcated balloon folding method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon folding system for folding the balloons of a bifurcated balloon catheter, the system comprising:
- a catheter housing, the catheter housing constructed and arranged to removably receive at least a portion of a balloon catheter including a primary balloon and a side branch balloon, the catheter housing being defined by;
at least three pleat forming members, the pleat forming members being distributed radially about a circumference of the catheter housing, each pleat forming member being movable between a radially open position and a radially closed position along a single axis, each pleat forming member having a pleat forming surface, the pleat forming surface constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the primary balloon as each pleat forming member moves from the open to the closed position; and
at least three compression members, the compression members being distributed radially about the circumference of the catheter housing and each compression member being positioned between two of the pleat forming members, each compression member being movable between a radially open position and a radially closed position along a single axis, each compression member having a compression surface,at least one compression surface constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the side branch balloon, at least two compression surfaces constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the primary balloon only after the pleat forming members begin moving from their radially open position to their radially closed position;
the balloon folding system further comprising a side branch balloon reducing assembly comprising a die defining a side branch balloon reduction chamber, a pin and an actuation mechanism engaged to the pin, said reduction chamber having a substantially cylindrical shape and an open top, said pin having a substantially cylindrical shape.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon folding system specifically configured to reduce a side branch balloon of a bifurcated balloon catheter assembly includes a die that defines at least one chamber for receipt of the sidebranch balloon, and at least one pin sized to fit into the chamber and reduce the balloon to a substantially flattened state. The system also may include a housing for the reduction and folding of a primary branch balloon. The system is configurable to fold and reduce both branches simultaneously or separately.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A balloon folding system for folding the balloons of a bifurcated balloon catheter, the system comprising:
-
a catheter housing, the catheter housing constructed and arranged to removably receive at least a portion of a balloon catheter including a primary balloon and a side branch balloon, the catheter housing being defined by; at least three pleat forming members, the pleat forming members being distributed radially about a circumference of the catheter housing, each pleat forming member being movable between a radially open position and a radially closed position along a single axis, each pleat forming member having a pleat forming surface, the pleat forming surface constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the primary balloon as each pleat forming member moves from the open to the closed position; and at least three compression members, the compression members being distributed radially about the circumference of the catheter housing and each compression member being positioned between two of the pleat forming members, each compression member being movable between a radially open position and a radially closed position along a single axis, each compression member having a compression surface, at least one compression surface constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the side branch balloon, at least two compression surfaces constructed and arranged to engage an external surface of the primary balloon only after the pleat forming members begin moving from their radially open position to their radially closed position; the balloon folding system further comprising a side branch balloon reducing assembly comprising a die defining a side branch balloon reduction chamber, a pin and an actuation mechanism engaged to the pin, said reduction chamber having a substantially cylindrical shape and an open top, said pin having a substantially cylindrical shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system for reducing a side branch balloon and for folding a primary balloon of a bifurcated balloon catheter, the system comprising:
-
a primary housing, the primary housing constructed and arranged to removably receive and reduce the primary balloon into a folded and wrapped reduced diameter configuration; and a side branch reducing assembly, the assembly comprising; a die, the die defining at least one balloon reduction chamber, at least a portion of the at least one balloon reduction chamber having a substantially cylindrical shape and an open top; at least one pin, each pin having a substantially cylindrical shape, corresponding to the shape of the at least one balloon reduction chamber, such that each pin is constructed and arranged to be removably received into a corresponding balloon reduction chamber; an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism engaged to the at least one pin, the actuation mechanism moving the at least one pin between a position external to the at least one balloon reduction chamber and a position wherein the at least one pin is inserted into the at least one balloon reduction chamber through the open top. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An assembly for reducing a side branch balloon of a side branch catheter shaft, the assembly comprising:
-
a die, the die defining at least one balloon reduction chamber, at least a portion of the at least one balloon reduction chamber having a substantially cylindrical shape and an open top; at least one pin, each pin having a substantially cylindrical shape, corresponding to the shape of the at least one balloon reduction chamber, such that each pin is constructed and arranged to be removably received into a corresponding balloon reduction chamber; an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism engaged to the at least one pin, the actuation mechanism moving the at least one pin along an actuation axis between a position external to the at least one balloon reduction chamber and a position wherein the at least one pin is inserted into the at least one balloon reduction chamber through the open top; wherein said actuation axis is parallel to a central axis of the substantially cylindrical shape of the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification