Abstract A catheter tube is extruded from a thermoplastic material having a memory characteristic. An end portion of the tube is heated sufficiently to soften the plastic and permit the end portion to be drawn out to a reduced diameter. A single rigid metal ferrule having a window opening therein is placed on the reduced end portion and this portion is heated again but in relaxed condition, causing it to re-expand and lock the ferrule in place. A balloon inflation opening is formed in the catheter tube communicating with a lumen therein through the window opening in the ferrule. A sleeve of balloon material is secured by bindings over end portions of the ferrule beyond opposite ends of the window opening. The ferrule provides rigid support for the balloon bindings so that the lumen or lumens in the catheter are not constricted by the bindings.
A balloon catheter comprising a plastic tube having a balloon inflation lumen therein, a rigid ferrule received in and indented in the outer surface of said tube, said ferrule having a window opening in its mid portion between two circumferential end portions, the wall of said tube portion of the inflation lumen having a balloon inflation opening in said window opening of the ferrule communicating with said lumen, an elastic sleeve balloon having opposite end portions overlying said opposite end portions of said ferrule, and constrictive binding means on said end portions of said balloon overlying said end portions of said ferrule on opposite ends of said window opening securing said balloon to the catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A balloon catheter comprising a plastic tube having a balloon inflation lumen therein, a rigid ferrule received in and indented in the outer surface of said tube, said ferrule having a window opening in its mid portion between two circumferential end portions, the wall of said tube portion of the inflation lumen having a balloon inflation opening in said window opening of the ferrule communicating with said lumen, an elastic sleeve balloon having opposite end portions overlying said opposite end portions of said ferrule, and constrictive binding means on said end portions of said balloon overlying said end portions of said ferrule on opposite ends of said window opening securing said balloon to the catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1, said balloon sleeve having an effective length in relaxed condition approximately equal to the length of said ferrule.