Steerable perfusion dilatation catheter

Claim 1

A steerable perfusion dilatation catheter comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having an inner lumen extending along the interior thereof; (b) a tubular perfusion body secured by the proximal end thereof to the distal extremity of the elongated tubular member, said perfusion body having a first, relatively small diameter lumen extending longitudinally therethrough in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the tubular member and having an inflation/deflation port open to the exterior of the perfusion body and a second, relatively large diameter lumen extending longitudinally therethrough with at least one inlet port on the proximal end thereof and at least one discharge port on the distal portion thereof adapted to facilitate the passage of blood therethrough; (c) an inflatable dilatation balloon member which is sealably secured by proximal and distal extremities thereof about the perfusion body with the inflation/deflation port of the perfusion body within the interior of the balloon member connecting in fluid communication the first, relatively small diameter lumen within the perfusion body with the interior of the balloon member to facilitate the inflation and deflation thereof; and (d) a guiding member extending through and fixed within the small diameter lumen of the perfusion body and having a distal portion extending out the distal end of the balloon, whereby the catheter can be advanced through a patient,s vascular system and a stenosis therein, the balloon thereof inflated to dilate the stenosis and blood is perfused through the balloon distal to the catheter.