Catheter for dilating stenotic lesions

Claim 2

In an angioplasty catheter for insertion into a patient's vascular system and other body cavities having an elongated balloon, and means for inflation of a balloon, the improvement comprising: a first pressure sensing element mounted to the catheter, said first element adapted to sense pressure in the vascular system or the patient's body cavity distally of said balloon and transmit a first electrical signal in relation thereto; a second pressure sensing element mounted to the catheter, said second element adapted to sense pressure in the vascular system or the patient's body cavity proximally of said balloon and transmit a second electrical signal in relation thereto; signal conduction means mounted to the catheter connected to said first and second pressure sensing elements for conducting said first and second electrical signals to the proximal end of the catheter located outside the patient's body.

Claim 3

a low profile catheter for dilating stenotic lesions in the vascular system and other body cavities, insertable over a guide comprising: an elongated body having a proximal and distal segment of said body, said tip defining at lest one substantially smooth bore lumen therethrough, said lumen in said body in flow communication with said lumen in said tip thereby allowing the catheter to be advanced over a guide extending through said lumen in said body in said tip; said body being harder than said tip; a balloon mounted in close proximity to the outer surface of said distal segment of said body defining a balloon cavity therebetween, said balloon having a proximal and distal neck, said balloon disposed substantially proximally to said tip, said distal neck of said balloon mounted adjacent to the juncture between said elongated tip segment and said distal end of said distal segment of said body; and means within said body for selectively inflating and deflating said balloon through said cavity.

Claim 4

The catheter of claim 19 wherein: the proximal end of said tip has an adjacent internal mounting shoulder circumscribing said lumen extending therethrough; said shoulder is mounted to the distal end of said distal segment of said body; and the distal neck of said balloon is connected directly onto the outer surface of said distal segment of said body adjacent to the proximal end of said tip whereupon the outer surface of the distal neck of said balloon is substantially longitudinally aligned with the outer surface of said tip.

Claim 5

The catheter of claim 19 wherein: the proximal end of said tip has an adjacent internal mounting shoulder circumscribing said lumen extending therethrough; said shoulder is mounted to the distal end of said distal segment of said body; and said tip further comprising; an external mounting shoulder adjacent it proximal end; and said distal neck of said balloon is connected to said external shoulder whereupon the outer surface of the distal neck of said balloon is substantially aligned with the outer surface of said tip adjacent the proximal end of said tip.

Claim 6

The catheter of claim 19 wherein: said tip is mounted to the distal extremity of said body thereby defining a joint therebetween; said tip having an outer surface substantially in longitudinal alignment with the outer surface of said distal segment of said body; said distal neck of said balloon is mounted over said aligned outer surfaces.

Claim 7

A catheter for dilating stenotic lesions in the vascular system and other body cavities, insertable over a guide comprising: a tubular body member; a tubular body member disposed substantially within said outer body member thereby defining an annulus therebetween; an inner body member having a distal end extending beyond the distal end of said outer member; said inner body member defining at least one lumen extending therethrough; said outer body member is tapered adjacent its distal end; said inner body member further comprises a tapered segment thereon, positioned adjacent to said tapered segment of said outer body member, thereby reducing the catheter profile at the distal end of said inner body member while permitting a larger lumen cross sectional area in said inner body member proximate to said tapered segment thereon; a balloon, said balloon having a proximal neck connected to said outer body member adjacent the distal end of said outer body member; said balloon having a distal neck connected in close proximity to the outer surface of said distal end of said inner body member; and said balloon defining an annular cavity extending from and in flow communication with said annulus and terminating adjacent said distal end of said inner body member.