Inflating device for balloon catheter

Claim 2

An inflating device (20) for a balloon catheter, comprising an actuating means (25) including a fluid reservoir (25A), a device outlet (36) for connection with a balloon catheter (37), a unidirectional valve means (44) interposed between the outlet (36) and the reservoir (25A), a by-pass (52) around the unidirectional valve means (44) for connecting the balloon catheter (37) to the reservoir (25A), and control valve means (48) interposed between the reservoir (25A) and the unidirectional valve means (44) and connected to the by-pass (52) whereby the control valve means (48) is operative in a first position to direct fluid flow through the unidirectional valve means to inflate the balloon catheter (37) and close the by-pass (52), and operative in a second position to open the by-pass (52) to the reservoir (25A) to deflate the balloon catheter (37).

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the unidirectional valve means (44) permits fluid flow in the direction from the reservoir (25A) to the balloon catheter (37) only.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reservoir (25A, 62, 101) includes a tubular barrel for containing a supply of actuating fluid and a plunger (26, 62C, 105) having a piston (27) connected thereto and reciprocally mounted in the tubular barrel, and the actuating means includes (a) a handle means (21B) and a lever (22) pivotally connected to the handle means, the lever (22) being in driving engagement with the piston (27) for imparting a mechanical advantage in effecting the displacement of the plunger (26) when the lever (22) is actuated, or (b) a handle means (61, 106) connected to the reservoir means (62, 101) a lever means (69, 100B) and means (67, 103) for adjustably pivoting the lever means (69, 100B) to the handle means, the lever means (69, 100B) being disposed in bearing or driving relationship to the plunger (62C, 105) whereby pivoting of the lever means (69, 100B) effects movement of the plunger (26) into the tubular barrel, the device preferably including means (71) for biasing the plunger towards its retracted position.

Claim 5

A device as defined in claim 3(a) wherein the plunger (26) includes a series of ratchet teeth (26B) extending longitudinally thereof and the lever (22) includes a ratchet pawl (29) disposed for engagement with the ratchet teeth whereby actuation of the lever permits incremental advancement of the plunger (26) in the barrel each time the lever is actuated, forcing the fluid in the barrel through the unidirectional valve means (44) for inflating the balloon catheter (37), the ratchet teeth (26B) optionally being formed along only a circumferential portion of the plunger (26).

Claim 6

A device as defined in claim 3(b) wherein the means for adjustably pivoting the lever means comprises a rack (67B) connected to the handle means (61A) and extending laterally therefrom, the rack having a series of connected indentations (67A) formed therein, and the lever means (61) including a fulcrum (68) adapted to be adjustably received in any one of the indentations about which the lever means (69) may be pivoted relative to the handle means.

Claim 8

A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the valve body (34) includes a bore (49) intersecting the fluid passageway means (38), the control valve means (48) comprising a rotary valve (48A) disposed in the bore (49), and the rotary valve (48A) having port openings (50, 51) for connecting the passageway means (38) with the reservoir (25A) and the balloon catheter (37) in one position of the rotary valve (48A) and a port opening connecting the by-pass (52) to the reservoir (25A) in another position of the rotary valve (48A).

Claim 10

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a tubular barrel (25A), the barrel (25A) having a front opening end (32A) connected to the unidirectional valve means (44) and a rear end, and the actuating means (25) further comprises a plunger (26) having a piston (27) connected thereto and slidably mounted in the tubular barrel (25A), the piston (27) being in fluid sealing relationship with the barrel (25A), and the plunger (26) extending through the rear end of the barrel, handle means (21) being associated with the tubular barrel (25A) and the plunger (26), the handle means including a fixed handle member (21B, 81A, 86, 91B, 106) associated with the barrel, and an actuating handle member (22, 91A) pivotally connected to the fixed handle member (21B, 81A, 86, 91B, 106), the actuating handle member (22, 91A) being disposed in engaging relationship with the plunger (26) whereby movement of the actuating handle member (22, 91A) relative to the fixed handle member (21B, 81A, 86, 91B, 106) effects displacement of the plunger (26) to force the actuating fluid through the front end opening (32A) of the barrel (25A), the fixed handle member (91B) and actuating handle member (91A) optionally comprising a unitary moulded member interconnected by a flexible hinge (91C) and/or the fixed handle member (86, 106) optionally including an opening extending longitudinally thereof to provide a finger opening for grasping the fixed handle.

Claim 11

A device as defined in claim 9 wherein the fixed handle member (81A) includes means (82A) for detachably connecting it to the tubular barrel (25A).

Claim 12

A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a housing (20) for the actuating means (25), the fluid reservoir (25A) being formed as a tubular barrel in the housing, the tubular barrel (25A) having a front end opening and a rear end opening; a plunger (26) having a piston (27) connected thereto reciprocally mounted in the tubular barrel for movement between a retracted and protracted position, the piston (27) being in fluid sealing relationship with the tubular barrel (25A) and the plunger (26) extending beyond the rear end of the tubular barrel; a valve body (34) connected with the front opening of the tubular barrel and having formed therein a valve chamber (39), a passageway means (38) in the valve body (34) connecting the front end opening with the valve chamber (39), and a bore (49) extending transversely of the passageway means (38), and the control valve means (48) comprising a rotary control valve (48A) rotatably mounted in the bore (49), the by-pass (52) interconnecting the valve chamber (39) and the bore (49), and the passageway means (38) opening into the valve chamber (39) at a valve seat (43) and the outlet (36) of the device being connected to the outlet of the valve chamber (39), the valve body (34) having the unidirectional valve (44) connected thereto and the unidirectional valve (44) engaging the valve seat (43) for controlling the passageway means (38) such that fluid can flow therethrough for inflating the balloon catheter only, the rotary control valve (48A) having a first channel (50) for directing fluid flow from the reservoir (25A) to the valve chamber (39) when the rotary control valve (48A) is in a first position for inflating the balloon catheter, and the rotary control valve (48A) having a second channel (51) for connecting the balloon catheter to the reservoir (25A) when in a second position for deflating the balloon catheter, and the housing (2) having a first handle member (21B) connected thereto, a movable actuating handle member (22) pivotally connected relative to the first handle member (21B), and means (29, 26B) for drivingly connecting the movable actuating handle member (22) to the plunger (26) whereby operation of the movable actuating handle member (22) effects incremental displacement of the plunger (26) and the piston (27) relative to the reservoir (28A).

Claim 13

A device as defined in claim 11 and adapted for the driving connection between the plunger (26) and the actuating handle member (22) to be disengaged whereby the plunger can be retraced independently of the actuating handle member.

Claim 14

A device as defined in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the unidirectional valve (44) comprises a flexible diaphragm (45) that permits fluid to flow through the passageway means (38) in one direction only and/or the device includes a pressure gauge (53) connected to the valve chamber (39)