EP0376132A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Steerable dilatation catheter
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A low-profile steerable dilatation catheter for angioplasty procedures which has an inflated balloon (16) on the distal end with little or no tendency to wrap on itself when the catheter is advanced through a patient's vascular system. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular member (11) which is longitudinally relatively flexible but diametrically relatively rigid, a guide extension (12) secured to the distal end of the elongated tubular member, and an inflatable balloon secured on the proximal end thereof to the distal end of the elongated tubular member and on the distal end directly or indirectly to the guide member or the tubular member and an elongated flexible member (40) such as a helical coil secured to the guide extension distally of the balloon. The elongated tubular member is preferably a hypotube of stainless steel or nitinol.
Inventors
- 👤 William S. Tremulis
- 👤 Wilfred J. Samson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/104; A61M25/0043; A61M2025/0063; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09008; A61M2025/09175; A61M25/1011; A61M2025/1015; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1079; A61M2025/1093; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A steerable dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon on the distal portion thereof, comprising: a) a first relatively long torquable member extending along the length of the catheter including, an elongated, tubular element formed of high-strength material having proximal and distal extremities and an inner lumen extending along the length thereof and a second relatively short tubular member having proximal and distal extremities with the proximal extremity thereof secured to the distal extremity of the first tubular member in fluid communication with at least one inflation port for inflation fluid provided in the distal extremity thereof, and a guide element secured to the distal extremity of the elongated tubular element; b) the inflatable balloon secured at both the proximal end and distal ends thereof to the elongated torquable member to prevent the relative rotational movement therebetween with means to connect in fluid communication at least one inflation port in the tubular member with the interior of the inflatable balloon; c) an elongated flexible member disposed about portions of the guide element which extend distally of the balloon; and d) means on the proximal portion of the torquable member to axially rotate the torquable member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A steerable dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon on the distal portion thereof, comprising: a) a first relatively long torquable member extending along the length of the catheter including, an elongated, tubular element formed of high-strength material having proximal and distal extremities and an inner lumen extending along the length thereof and a second relatively short tubular member having proximal and distal extremities with the proximal extremity thereof secured to the distal extremity of the first tubular member in fluid communication with at least one inflation port for inflation fluid provided in the distal extremity thereof, and a guide element secured to the distal extremity of the elongated tubular element; b) the inflatable balloon secured at both the proximal end and distal ends thereof to the elongated torquable member to prevent the relative rotational movement therebetween with means to connect in fluid communication at least one inflation port in the tubular member with the interior of the inflatable balloon; c) an elongated flexible member disposed about portions of the guide element which extend distally of the balloon; and d) means on the proximal portion of the torquable member to axially rotate the torquable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the inflatable balloon has the proximal end thereof secured to the distal extremity of the elongated tubular element proximally of at least one inflation port therein to facilitate the passage of inflation fluid from the inner lumen of the tubular member into the interior of the inflatable balloon with the distal end of the balloon sealingly secured about the guide element extending therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claims 1 or 2 wherein the flexible member is a helical coil or an elongated body of flexible plastic and has a smooth rounded plug on the distal tip thereof the flexible member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongated tubular member is formed of metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and nitinol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of any one of the preceding claims wherein a flexible plastic tube is disposed about the elongated tube formed of high-strength material and is sealingly secured about the periphery thereof at a location proximal to the balloon and wherein one or more inlet ports are provided in the elongated tube formed of high-strength material proximally of the location where the flexible plastic tube is secured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of any one of the preceding claims wherein the torque means is secured to the proximal end of the elongated tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of any one of the preceding claims including means to vent air from the interior of the balloon during the inflation thereof with inflating liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 7 wherein the venting means is a porous body disposed between the distal end of the balloon and the guide element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular member extends through the interior of the balloon and the distal end of the balloon is sealed about the distal end of the tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 9 wherein the portion of the tubular member extending through the balloon is provided with a plurality of slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 10 wherein the slots are axially offset from one another by at least 45° and are cut through at least half the diameter of the tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the balloon is secured to the guide extension with inflation fluid passageways provided therein distal to the location thereof secured to the guide extension and a relatively short extension tube is provided between the distal end of the tubular element and the proximal end of the balloon to direct inflation fluid from the inflation ports in the distal end of the tubular element through the inflation passageways in the proximal end of the balloon into the interior of the balloon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 12 wherein the extension tube is formed of polyimide and has a wall thickness of less than 0.002 inch (0.05 mm).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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