Dilatation catheter

Claim 2

A dilatation catheter, comprising: a length of a tubular shaft of flexible material having a longitudinal axis; an inner tubular flexible member coaxially disposed in the shaft and having a distal portion projecting therefrom; a balloon portion formed at the distal end of the flexible shaft, the balloon portion being capable of expanding radially to a predetermined diameter with minor axial movement when subjected to internal pressure to provide a balloon, the balloon portion fixed to the distal end of the tubular flexible shaft and the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member; and a transition portion at each end of the balloon portion for coupling the balloon portion to the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member and the distal portion of the tubular flexible shaft, the transition portion being capable of longitudinal extension in response to a minor longitudinal contraction at the two ends of the balloon portion to reduce the axial movement when the balloon portion is inflated.

Claim 3

The dilatation catheter of claim 1, in which the balloon portion is formed from a fabric substrate and a fluid impermeable elastomer.

Claim 4

The dilatation catheter of claim 1, in which the transition portion is formed from a fabric substrate and a fluid impermeable elastomer.

Claim 5

The dilation catheter of claim 1, in which the balloon portion is formed with radial crimps running length-wise about the circumference of the balloon portion.

Claim 6

The dilatation catheter of claim 1, in which the transition portion is formed with longitudinal crimps.

Claim 7

The dilatation catheter of claim 1, in which the balloon portion is formed with a plurality of circumferential crimps running length-wise and the transition portions are formed with a plurality of longitudinal crimps across the length of the catheter.

Claim 8

The dilatation catheter of claim 6, in which the baloon portion and the transition portions are formed from a fabric substrate and an elastomer.

Claim 9

The dilatation catheter of claim 4, in which the transition portion is formed from a fabric coated with an elastomer.

Claim 10

The dilatation catheter of claim 5, in which the balloon portion is formed from a fabric coated with an elastomer.

Claim 11

The dilatation catheter of claim 6, in which the crimps have a triangular cross-section.

Claim 12

The dilatation catheter of claim 6, in which the crimps have a curvilinear cross-section.

Claim 13

The dilatation catheter of claim 6, in which the crimps have a cross-section in the form of a frustum of triangle.

Claim 14

The dilatation catheter of claim 7, in which the fabric is polyester.

Claim 15

The dilatation catheter of claim 7, in which the polyester is coated with polyurethane.

Claim 16

The dilatation catheter of claim 1, in which the inner member includes a distal tip, the shaft having a distal transition portion, a proximal transition portion, and a balloon portion therebetween, the distal end of the distal transition portion coupled to the distal tip, the proximal end of the proximal transition portion fixed to the outer flexible shaft, and the balloon portion between the connecting portions.

Claim 17

The dilatation catheter of claim 6, further including a radio-opaque member to aid in positioning the catheter during use.

Claim 18

The dilatation catheter of claim 16, wherein the fabric substrate is a dacron fabric and the elastomeric material is a polyurethane.

Claim 19

The dilatation catheter of claim 2, wherein the fabric substrate is coated with the elastomer.

Claim 20

The dilation catheter of claim 2, wherein the fabric substrate is impregnated with the elastomer.

Claim 21

The dilatation catheter of claim 2, wherein the elastomer is in the form of an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed about the fabric substrate.

Claim 22

The dilatation catheter of claim 3, wherein the fabric substrate is coated with the elastomer.

Claim 23

The dilatation catheter of claim 3, wherein the fabric substrate is impregnated with the elastomer.

Claim 24

The dilatation catheter of claim 3, wherein the elastomer is in the form of an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed about the fabric substrate.

Claim 25

A dilatation catheter, comprising: a length of a tubular shaft of flexible material having a longitudinal axis; an inner tubular flexible member coaxially disposed in the shaft and having a distal portion projecting therefrom; a balloon portion formed at the distal end of the flexible shaft, the balloon portion formed with a plurality of circumferential crimps running length-wise being capable of expanding radially to a predetermined diameter with minor axial movement when subjected to internal pressure to provide a balloon, the balloon portion fixed to the distal end of the tubular flexible shaft and the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member; and a transition portion end of the balloon portion surrounding the inner flexible member formed with a plurality of longitudinal crimps across the length of the catheter for coupling the balloon portion to the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member and the distal portion of the tubular flexible shaft, the transition portion being capable of longitudinal extension in response to a minor longitudinal contraction at the two ends of the balloon portion to reduce the axial movement when the balloon portion is inflated.

Claim 26

A dilatation catheter, comprising: a length of a tubular shaft of flexible material having a longitudinal axis; an inner tubular flexible member coaxially disposed in the shaft and having a distal portion projecting therefrom; a balloon portion formed at the distal end of the flexible shaft, the balloon portion formed with a plurality of circumferential crimps running length-wise being capable of expanding radially to a predetermined diameter with minor axial movement when subjected to internal pressure to provide a balloon, the balloon portion fixed to the distal end of the tubular flexible shaft and the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member; and a transition portion end of the balloon portion surrounding the inner flexible member formed with a plurality of longitudinal crimps across the length of the catheter for coupling the balloon portion to the distal end of the inner tubular flexible member and the distal portion of the tubular flexible shaft, the transition portion being capable of longitudinal extension in response to a minor longitudinal contraction at the two ends of the balloon portion to reduce the axial movement when the balloon portion is inflated.

Claim 27

The dilatation catheter of claim 24, in which the balloon portion and the transition portions are formed from a fabric substrate and an elastomer.

Claim 28

The dilatation catheter of claim 24, in which the crimps have a triangular cross-section.

Claim 29

The dilatation catheter of claim 24, in which the crimps have a curviliner cross-section.

Claim 30

The dilatation catheter of claim 24, in which the crimps have a cross-section in the form of a frustum of triangle.

Claim 31

The dilatation catheter of claim 25, in which the fabric is polyester.

Claim 32

The dilatation catheter of claim 25, in which the polyester is coated with polyurethane.

Claim 33

The dilatation catheter of claim 24, further including a radio-opaque member to aid in positioning the catheter during use.

Claim 34

The dilatation catheter of claim 31, wherein the fabric substrate is a dacron fabric and the elastomeric material is a polyurethane.

Claim 35

A balloon catheter for introduction into a blood vessel, comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinal axis; an outer tube in coaxial relation to the inner tube; the inner diameter of the outer tube being larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube so that the two tubes form an annular space between the tubes, and the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond the distal end of the outer tube with the distal end of the outer tube sealed to the inner tube; the outer tube formed of a flexible material and having a balloon portion and a transition portion at each end of the balloon portion disposed at the distal end of the outer tube; the balloon portion and transition portions formed from a fabric substrate and a fluid impermeable elastomeric material; the balloon portion formed with a plurality of circumferential crimps running length-wise along the axis; the transition portion formed with a plurality of longitudinal crimps across the axis; the balloon portion adapted to be inflated to a predetermined diameter when subject to internal pressure to provide a balloon; and the transition portions longitudinally extending to compensate exactly for minor longitudinal contraction at the two ends of the balloon portion when the balloon is inflated whereby the baloon portion is not displaced longitudinally in the blood vessel.

Claim 36

A balloon catheter for introduction into a blood vessel, comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinal axis; an outer tube in coaxial relation to the inner tube; the inner diameter of the outer tube being larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube so that the two tubes form an annular space between the tubes, and the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond the distal end of the outer tube with the distal end of the outer tube sealed to the inner tube; the outer tube formed of a flexible material and having a balloon portion and a transition portion at each end of the balloon portion disposed at the distal end of the outer tube; the balloon portion and transition portions formed from a fabric substrate and a fluid impermeable elastomeric material; the balloon portion formed with a plurality of circumferential crimps running length-wise along the axis; the transition portion formed with a plurality of longitudinal crimps across the axis; the balloon portion adapted to be inflated to a predetermined diameter when subject to internal pressure to provide a balloon; and the transition portions longitudinally extending to compensate exactly for minor longitudinal contraction at the two ends of the balloon portion when the balloon is inflated whereby the baloon portion is not displaced longitudinally in the blood vessel.