EP0256683A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for furling a balloon of a balloon catheter
Assignee: ARIES MEDICAL Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A packaged deflated balloon catheter includes a catheter (12) coupled to a balloon (10) which is received in a furling device (36). The package comprises a tray (26) provided with recesses (28,30,32), for receiving the furling device (36), a holding sheath (38) and the catheter (12). The furling device (36) comprises means for retaining the walls of the balloon (10) on either side of its longitudinal axis flat so that relative rotation of the means for retaining and the balloon (10 causes the balloon (10) to be furled. The furled balloon (10) can then be withdrawn from the furling device (36) into the sheath (38) which retains it in a furled condition for insertion. The catheter (12) may also include a syringe (18) connected to the catheter (12) by means of which the deflated balloon (10) can be evacuated prior to furling.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold L. Neuman
- 👤 Edward J. Lombardi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/002; A61M25/00; A61M25/002; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/126; A61M60/13; A61M60/135; A61M60/139; A61M60/20; A61M60/295; A61M60/40; A61M60/497; A61M60/80; A61M60/841; A61M60/843; A61M2209/00; A61M2209/06; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/268; A61M60/274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Structure for furling a deflated, generally flat balloon of a balloon catheter and confining at least a portion thereof within a sheath preparatory to use, said structure comprising relatively rotatable means engaged with the ends of the deflated balloon and with the balloon intermediate its ends, said means being relatively rotatable to furl the balloon about its longitudinal axis in opposite directions with respect to its mid-length to contract the deflated balloon to a less than predetermined diameter from end-to-end, a sheath defining an elongate tubular passage corresponding in internal diameter to the outside diameter of the furled balloon, said sheath supported in axial alignment with the furled balloon, and means for effecting movement of a portion at least of the furled balloon into said sheath to constrain the furled balloon in said furled condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Structure for furling a deflated, generally flat balloon of a balloon catheter and confining at least a portion thereof within a sheath preparatory to use, said structure comprising relatively rotatable means engaged with the ends of the deflated balloon and with the balloon intermediate its ends, said means being relatively rotatable to furl the balloon about its longitudinal axis in opposite directions with respect to its mid-length to contract the deflated balloon to a less than predetermined diameter from end-to-end, a sheath defining an elongate tubular passage corresponding in internal diameter to the outside diameter of the furled balloon, said sheath supported in axial alignment with the furled balloon, and means for effecting movement of a portion at least of the furled balloon into said sheath to constrain the furled balloon in said furled condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 1 comprising means for evacuating the deflated balloon prior to furling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 1 wherein said relatively rotatable means comprise a catheter connected to the proximal end of the balloon, a wire extending through the balloon to the distal end and connected thereto, and a friction-engendering device to engage the balloon intermediate its ends as the balloon is furled from both ends toward its mid-section to furl the balloon in a substantially uniform manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Means for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 3 wherein said friction-engendering device comprises diametrically-arranged surfaces with which the portions of the deflated balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis are maintained flat, said surfaces being relatively rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the deflated balloon and operable by such rotation to furl the balloon from its ends towards its mid-section to a substantially uniform diameter throughout its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 3 wherein said friction-engendering device comprises spaced, parallel surfaces corresponding substantially in width to the width of the deflated balloon and in spacing to substantially the thickness of the deflated balloon and wherein one at least of said surfaces has medially thereof a groove of a transverse width to receive the furled balloon when it has been constricted to its desired diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 3 wherein said friction-engendering device comprises an elongate block containing a recess longitudinally thereof corresponding in width and depth to the width and thickness of the deflated balloon and medially thereof a groove of a transverse width and depth corresponding to the desired diameter of the furled balloon and a cover plate secured to said block bridging the recess and the groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 1 wherein the means engaged with the ends of the deflated balloon are, respectively, a catheter at the proximal end and a wire connected to the distal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 1 wherein the means for effecting rotation comprises a coupling to which the distal end of the catheter and the distal end of the wire are connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 1 wherein the means for evacuating the balloon comprises a syringe connected by way of a catheter to the balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Structure for furling a deflated balloon according to claim 9 wherein the syringe is connected to the catheter by a coupling comprising a one-way valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A packaged, deflated balloon catheter, including a catheter connected at its distal end to the proximal end of a balloon, a check valve connected to the proximal end of the catheter and a wire connected at its proximal end to the proximal end of the catheter end and at its distal end to the distal end of the balloon, said package comprising a tray containing a recess for receiving the deflated balloon, catheter and check valve, a furling device non-rotatably disposed in the recess about the deflated balloon and a holding sheath disposed in the recess adjacent the furling device, said catheter and wire being relatively rotatable with respect to the mid-section of said balloon and to the furling device to furl the balloon within the furling device from its ends towards its mid-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A packaged, deflated balloon catheter, including a catheter connected at its distal end to the proximal end of a balloon, a check valve connected to the proximal end of the catheter and a wire connected at its proximal end to the proximal end of the catheter end and at its distal end to the distal end of the balloon, said package comprising a tray containing a recess for receiving the deflated balloon, catheter and check valve, a furling device non-rotatably disposed in the recess about the deflated balloon and a holding sheath disposed in the recess adjacent the furling device, said catheter and wire being relatively rotatable with respect to the mid-section of said balloon and to the furling device to furl the balloon within the furling device from its ends towards its mid-section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A packaged, deflated balloon catheter according to claim 11 wherein said check valve and catheter are movable along said recess to retract at least a portion of the furled balloon into the holding sheath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A packaged, deflated balloon catheter according to claim 12 comprising a syringe disposed in the recess connectable to the check valve by means of which the balloon can be evacuated prior to furling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A packaged, deflated balloon catheter according to claim 13 wherein a cover sheet coextensive in length and breadth is sealably applied to the tray to hermetically seal the balloon, catheter, check valve and syringe, together with the furling device and sheath in the tray.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter, said fixture comprising an elongate retaining structure defining a recess corresponding substantially in width to the width of the deflated balloon and in minimum depth to substantially the thickness of the deflated balloon, said fixture being operable when rotated relative to the ends of the balloon catheter to furl the balloon from its mid-length to its ends to no greater than a predetermined diameter from end-to-end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter, said fixture comprising an elongate retaining structure defining a recess corresponding substantially in width to the width of the deflated balloon and in minimum depth to substantially the thickness of the deflated balloon, said fixture being operable when rotated relative to the ends of the balloon catheter to furl the balloon from its mid-length to its ends to no greater than a predetermined diameter from end-to-end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter comprising an elongate retaining structure defining a recess corresponding substantially in width to the width of the deflated balloon and in minimum depth to substantially the thickness of the deflated balloon, said fixture being operable when the ends of the balloon are rotated relative thereto to furl the balloon from its mid-length to its ends to no greater than a predetermined diameter from end-to-end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter comprising an elongate retaining structure defining a recess corresponding substantially in width to the width of the deflated balloon and in minimum depth to substantially the thickness of the deflated balloon, said fixture being operable when the ends of the balloon are rotated relative thereto to furl the balloon from its mid-length to its ends to no greater than a predetermined diameter from end-to-end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A furling fixture according to claim 15 wherein said recess contains a longitudinally-extending groove from one end to the other located midway between its sides for retaining the furled balloon having a predetermined diameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A furling fixture according to claim 15 wherein said structure comprises facing bottom and top parts substantially coextensive in length and width and the bottom part contains a groove.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A furling fixture according to claim 18 wherein there are clamps engaged with the opposite edges of the bottom and top parts for holding the bottom and top parts detachably engaged.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A furling fixture according to claim 18 wherein the bottom part comprises means for engaging and retaining the top part in fixed relation thereto.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A furling fixture according to claim 18 wherein the groove is bounded along its opposite sides by ribs of a lesser height than the depth of the remaining portions of the recess.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
85 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter comprising means for retaining the opposite broad faces of the deflated balloon in a substantially flat position at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, said means being operable to effect rotation of the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis relative to its longitudinal axis and simultaneously to relinquish the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis for constriction there to a furled diameter of substantially uniform cross section from end-to-end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A furling fixture for furling a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter comprising means for retaining the opposite broad faces of the deflated balloon in a substantially flat position at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, said means being operable to effect rotation of the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis relative to its longitudinal axis and simultaneously to relinquish the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis for constriction there to a furled diameter of substantially uniform cross section from end-to-end.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of preparing a balloon catheter for insertion into a patient, said method comprising evacuating the balloon to cause it to become flattened throughout its length from end-to-end and to eliminate air pockets, furling the flattened balloon about its longitudinal axis commencing at its mid-length and proceeding to its opposite ends to condense the balloon to a predetermined diameter from end-to-end and confining the furled, condensed balloon within a tubular sheath of an inside diameter corresponding to substantially the predetermined diameter of the furled balloon, wherein said furling step is accomplished prior to removing the balloon catheter from a tray by using a furling fixture disposed within said tray, said fixtures comprising means for retaining the opposite broad faces of the deflated balloon in a substantially flat position at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, said means being operable to effect rotation of the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis relative to its longitudinal axis and simultaneously to relinquish the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis for constriction there to a furled diameter of substantially uniform cross section from end-to-end.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of preparing a balloon catheter for insertion into a patient, said method comprising evacuating the balloon to cause it to become flattened throughout its length from end-to-end and to eliminate air pockets, furling the flattened balloon about its longitudinal axis commencing at its mid-length and proceeding to its opposite ends to condense the balloon to a predetermined diameter from end-to-end and confining the furled, condensed balloon within a tubular sheath of an inside diameter corresponding to substantially the predetermined diameter of the furled balloon, wherein said furling step is accomplished prior to removing the balloon catheter from a tray by using a furling fixture disposed within said tray, said fixtures comprising means for retaining the opposite broad faces of the deflated balloon in a substantially flat position at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, said means being operable to effect rotation of the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis relative to its longitudinal axis and simultaneously to relinquish the balloon at opposite sides of its longitudinal axis for constriction there to a furled diameter of substantially uniform cross section from end-to-end.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of providing a balloon catheter for use, said method comprising providing the balloon in a deflated condition in an encapsulated receptacle together with a furling device disposed about the balloon and a tubular sheath for receiving the furled balloon, opening the receptacle, effecting rotation of the ends of the balloon relative to the furling device to impart twist to the balloon in opposite directions from its mid-length to its opposite ends and to constrict it to a diameter to be received within the sheath, drawing the furled balloon into the sheath and removing the sheathed furled balloon from the receptacle.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of providing a balloon catheter for use, said method comprising providing the balloon in a deflated condition in an encapsulated receptacle together with a furling device disposed about the balloon and a tubular sheath for receiving the furled balloon, opening the receptacle, effecting rotation of the ends of the balloon relative to the furling device to impart twist to the balloon in opposite directions from its mid-length to its opposite ends and to constrict it to a diameter to be received within the sheath, drawing the furled balloon into the sheath and removing the sheathed furled balloon from the receptacle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 24 comprising evacuating the balloon prior to furling.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein a catheter is connected to the proximal end of the balloon, a wire extending longitudinally through the catheter and the balloon is connected to the distal end of the balloon and the catheter and wire are rotated in unison to effect furling of the balloon from its ends towards its mid-length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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