Detachable balloon catheter device

Claim 2

A detachable balloon catheter device (10) comprising: a resilient tubular cannula (12) with a lumen (18) extending therethrough having a proximal portion adapted for connection to a source of external fluid and having its lumen (18) closed at the distal end (19) thereof, the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) including fluid passage means through the circumferential wall thereof in communication with said lumen (18); a plug (16) detachably connected to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) without blocking said fluid passage means; and an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) covering said plug (16) and said fluid passage means, said balloon (14) having an opening (30) normally in fluid-tight engagement around said cannula (12), said cannula (12) being slidable proximally through said opening (30) when the balloon (14) is inflated to disengage said plug (16) therefrom and position the plug (16) in fluid-tight engagement in said opening (30) interiorly of said balloon (14) to thereby detach said cannula (12) from said inflated balloon (14).

Claim 3

The device of Claim 1 wherein the fluid passage means includes at least one hole (21) through the circumferential wall of said cannula (12).

Claim 4

The device of Claim 1 wherein said plug (16) is connected to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) by frictional engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12).

Claim 5

The device of Claim 1 wherein said plug (16) has a larger diameter than the diameter of said cannula (12).

Claim 6

The device of Claim 4 wherein said plug (16) is tapered, with its larger diameter (26) being at the distal end thereof.

Claim 7

The device of Claim 1 wherein said balloon (14) includes a sleeve-like extension (29) through which said opening (30) extends, said sleeve-like extension (29) being in frictional and fluid-tight engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12) on the proximal side of said fluid passage means.

Claim 8

The device of Claim 1 wherein said plug (16) is connected only to said cannula (12) until it is adapted to engage the opening (30) when the cannula (12) is slidably withdrawn from said inflated balloon (14).

Claim 9

The device of Claim 1 wherein said balloon (14) and said plug (16) are made of the same material (28) .

Claim 10

The device of Claim 8 wherein said material is silicone rubber.

Claim 11

A balloon catheter device comprising: a hollow cannula (12) adapted for attachment to a fluid source; an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to an end of the cannula (12) in fluid communication therewith; and closure means (16) for sealing the balloon (14) internally after it is inflated with fluid from said source responsive to withdrawing movement of said cannula (12) from said balloon (14) in the proximal direction.

Claim 12

A balloon catheter device comprising: a hollow cannula (12) adapted for attachment to a fluid source; an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to an end of the cannula (12) in fluid communication therewith; and closure means (16) for sealing the balloon (14) internally after it is inflated with fluid from said source responsive to withdrawing movement of said cannula (12) from said balloon (14) in the proximal direction.

Claim 13

A detachable balloon catheter device comprising: a resilient tubular cannula (12) with a lumen (18) extending therethrough having a proximal portion adapted for connection to a source of external fluid and having its lumen (18) closed at the distal end (19) thereof, the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) including a plurality of holes (21) through the circumferential wall thereof in fluid communication with said lumen (18) ; a plug (16) detachably connected only to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) by frictional engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12) without blocking said holes (21), said plug (16) being tapered with its larger diameter (26) being at the distal end (19) thereof; and an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) by a sleeve-like extension (29) having an opening (30) in frictional and fluid-tight engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12) on the proximal side of said holes (21), said cannula (12) being slidable proximally through said opening (30) when the balloon (14) is inflated to cause said tapered plug to lodge in fluid-tight engagement in said opening (30) interiorly of said balloon (14) and become detached from said cannula (12) whereby said cannula (12) is detachable from said inflated balloon (14).

Claim 14

A detachable balloon catheter device comprising: a resilient tubular cannula (12) with a lumen (18) extending therethrough having a proximal portion adapted for connection to a source of external fluid and having its lumen (18) closed at the distal end (19) thereof, the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) including a plurality of holes (21) through the circumferential wall thereof in fluid communication with said lumen (18) ; a plug (16) detachably connected only to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) by frictional engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12) without blocking said holes (21), said plug (16) being tapered with its larger diameter (26) being at the distal end (19) thereof; and an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to the distal portion (19) of said cannula (12) by a sleeve-like extension (29) having an opening (30) in frictional and fluid-tight engagement around the outer circumferential wall of said cannula (12) on the proximal side of said holes (21), said cannula (12) being slidable proximally through said opening (30) when the balloon (14) is inflated to cause said tapered plug to lodge in fluid-tight engagement in said opening (30) interiorly of said balloon (14) and become detached from said cannula (12) whereby said cannula (12) is detachable from said inflated balloon (14).

Claim 15

In the use of a detachable balloon catheter device to occlude a vessel (40) comprising a hollow cannula (12) adapted for attachment to a fluid source, an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to an end of the cannula (12.) in fluid communication therewith, and closure means (16) for sealing the balloon (14), a method of inflat- ting and detaching said balloon (14) from said cannula (12) after it is inflated comprising: introducing fluid from a source into said balloon (14) to inflate same after the balloon (14) is positioned in a vessel (40); withdrawing said cannula (12) proximally from said inflated balloon (14) to cause said closure means (16) to seal the inflated balloon (14) internally; and thereafter detaching said cannula (12) from said inflated balloon (14) by continued proximal withdrawal.

Claim 16

In the use of a detachable balloon catheter device to occlude a vessel (40) comprising a hollow cannula (12) adapted for attachment to a fluid source, an inflatable balloon (14) detachably connected to an end of the cannula (12.) in fluid communication therewith, and closure means (16) for sealing the balloon (14), a method of inflat- ting and detaching said balloon (14) from said cannula (12) after it is inflated comprising: introducing fluid from a source into said balloon (14) to inflate same after the balloon (14) is positioned in a vessel (40); withdrawing said cannula (12) proximally from said inflated balloon (14) to cause said closure means (16) to seal the inflated balloon (14) internally; and thereafter detaching said cannula (12) from said inflated balloon (14) by continued proximal withdrawal.