Low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter with shapeable and/or deflectable tip and method

• US 5,779,688 A
• Filed: 07/20/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intella Interventional Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Brooks, Dennis L., Gandhi, Deepak R., Hillsman, Cecily M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blyveis, Deborah
• Application Number:
  US08/504,927
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95-98, 604/103, 604/104, 604/101, 604/283, 600/146, 600/152
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0186 Catheters with fixed wires, i.e. so called "non-over-the-wire catheters"
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1079 having radio-opaque markers in the region of the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A low profile, balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities. A balloon inflation-deflation lumen extends from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. An inflatable balloon is carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The flexible elongate tubular member carries means which establishes communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon. A removable inflation device is removably secured to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. The removable inflation device forms a high pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The removable inflation device is free of obstructions so that another balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member which serves as a stand-alone guide wire. The distal extremity of the catheter is formed so that it is mechanically shapeable or can be electrically deflectable to facilitate steering of the distal extremity.

Claims

1. A low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having an outer cylindrical surface and a lumen disposed inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal extremity to the flexible elongate tubular member, means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member for establishing communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon and inflation means removably secured to the proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon, said removable inflation means including means forming a first high-pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said removable inflation means when removed providing a proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that a balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said flexible elongate tubular member having at least one side opening therein in communication with the lumen, said removable inflation means including means forming a second high pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said first and second high pressure seals being disposed on opposite sides of the at least one side opening so that the inflation fluid from the removable inflation means passes through said side opening.

2. A low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having an outer cylindrical surface and a lumen disposed inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member for establishing communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon and removable inflation means removably secured to the proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon, said removable inflation means including means forming a high-pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said removable inflation means when removed providing a proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that a balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and steerable means carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said steerable means including conducting means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member and connected to the steerable means and extending to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, an electrical connector removably connected to the conductive means at the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said electrical connector when removed providing a proximal extremity for the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that another balloon catheter can be advanced over the flexible elongate tubular member with the flexible elongate tubular member serving as a guide wire.

3. A catheter as in claim 2 wherein said conductive means includes said flexible elongate tubular member serving as one conductor and conductor means carried by said flexible elongate tubular member and insulated therefrom to serve as another conductor.