Abstract Disclosed is a catheter for performing balloon angioplasty having multiple independently inflatable/deflatable balloons thereon, each balloon having a different diameter. The balloons are capable of withstanding pressures in excess of 100 psi and are non-elastomeric and imperforate. Also disclosed is a method for performing balloon angioplasty by advancing a balloon catheter of the type disclosed into a stenosis inside a blood vessel, inflating a first balloon to partially dilate the stenosis, advancing a second balloon into the partially dilated stenosis, wherein the diameter of the second balloon is greater than the diameter of the first balloon, and inflating the second balloon to further dilate the stenosis. Also disclosed is a method for performing balloon angioplasty with a catheter of the type disclosed herein, by positioning a first balloon inside a first stenosis in a blood vessel and inflating a first balloon to dilate the first stenosis, and positioning a second balloon inside a second stenosis in a blood vessel and inflating the second balloon to dilate the second stenosis, wherein the diameter of the first balloon is different from the diameter of the second balloon. A third stenosis may be dilated with a third balloon on the catheter in a similar manner, where the third balloon has a diameter different from that of the other two balloons.
A catheter for performing balloon angioplasty, comprising: an elongate, flexible catheter shaft having a plurality of lumens therethrough; a plurality of imperforate angioplasty balloons on said shaft, with the interior of each of said balloons in fluid communication with a different one of said lumens for separate inflation and deflation, each of said balloons having a predetermined maximum inflated diameter and being formed of non-elastomeric material, said balloons being capable of substantially maintaining said predetermined maximum inflated diameter at inflation pressures of 100 psi; an axial torque guidewire extending through said catheter shaft and out of the distal end of said catheter shaft; said balloons comprising: a first balloon on said catheter shaft near the distal end thereof; and a second balloon on said catheter shaft proximally of and adjacent to said first balloon, wherein the maximum inflated diameter of said first balloon is less than the maximum inflated diameter of said second balloon, wherein the distal end of said first balloon is bonded to said guidewire and the proximal end of said first balloon is bonded to said shaft, said shaft terminating at the proximal end of said first balloon so that when said first balloon is deflated, the distal end of said catheter at said first balloon has a diameter less than the diameter of said shaft, such that when said second balloon is positioned in a stenosis in a branch of the left main artery system, and the first balloon extends into an artery of decreasing diameter, said first balloon does not occlude said artery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A catheter for performing balloon angioplasty, comprising: an elongate, flexible catheter shaft having a plurality of lumens therethrough; a plurality of imperforate angioplasty balloons on said shaft, with the interior of each of said balloons in fluid communication with a different one of said lumens for separate inflation and deflation, each of said balloons having a predetermined maximum inflated diameter and being formed of non-elastomeric material, said balloons being capable of substantially maintaining said predetermined maximum inflated diameter at inflation pressures of 100 psi; an axial torque guidewire extending through said catheter shaft and out of the distal end of said catheter shaft; said balloons comprising: a first balloon on said catheter shaft near the distal end thereof; and a second balloon on said catheter shaft proximally of and adjacent to said first balloon, wherein the maximum inflated diameter of said first balloon is less than the maximum inflated diameter of said second balloon, wherein the distal end of said first balloon is bonded to said guidewire and the proximal end of said first balloon is bonded to said shaft, said shaft terminating at the proximal end of said first balloon so that when said first balloon is deflated, the distal end of said catheter at said first balloon has a diameter less than the diameter of said shaft, such that when said second balloon is positioned in a stenosis in a branch of the left main artery system, and the first balloon extends into an artery of decreasing diameter, said first balloon does not occlude said artery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said first balloon and said second balloon are formed of a single, continuous tube of polymer material.