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US5137512A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multisegment balloon protector for dilatation catheter

Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1990-12-11
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2010-12-11
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Abstract

Abstract A multisegment balloon protector, includes several protectors each of which covers and tightly fits over a portion of the length of a balloon of a dilatation catheter.

Inventors

  • 👤 Matthew M. Burns
  • 👤 Scott R. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 03:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/104; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1081

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim 56 words
A method of covering a deflated balloon positioned adjacent a distal end of a balloon catheter, the method comprising: positioning a first protector over a first expandable segment of the deflated balloon; and positioning a second protector over a second expandable segment of the deflated balloon, the second segment being located distally of the first segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 56 words
A method of covering a deflated balloon positioned adjacent a distal end of a balloon catheter, the method comprising: positioning a first protector over a first expandable segment of the deflated balloon; and positioning a second protector over a second expandable segment of the deflated balloon, the second segment being located distally of the first segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first protector has a first inner diameter, and the second protector has a second, smaller inner diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising: connecting together the first and second protectors in end-to-end relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the connecting is provided by: a male connector carried by one of the first and second protectors; and a female connector carried by the other protector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the male connector is located at a distal end of the first protector and the female connector is located at a proximal end of the second protector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second protectors are formed of polytetrafluorethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising: positioning a third protector over a third expandable segment of the balloon which is located distally of the second segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the first, and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the first tube section is longer than the second tube section and wherein the second tube section has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the second tube section has a outwardly projecting lip at a distal end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second protector has a portion which is adapted to extend into a distal end portion of the first protector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 73 words
In combination: a balloon catheter having a shaft and a deflated balloon attached to the shaft at a distal end of the shaft; and a multipart balloon protector covering the deflated balloon, the balloon protector comprising: a first protector covering a first expandable segment of the balloon; and a second protector covering a second expandable segment of the balloon, wherein the second segment of the balloon is located distally of the first segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 73 words
In combination: a balloon catheter having a shaft and a deflated balloon attached to the shaft at a distal end of the shaft; and a multipart balloon protector covering the deflated balloon, the balloon protector comprising: a first protector covering a first expandable segment of the balloon; and a second protector covering a second expandable segment of the balloon, wherein the second segment of the balloon is located distally of the first segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the first protector has a first inner diameter, and the second protector has a second, smaller inner diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the first and second protectors are connected together in end-to-end relationship.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 29 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein the second protector has a female connector portion at a proximal end into which a distal end of the first protector is inserted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the balloon protector further comprises: a third protector covering a third expandable segment of the balloon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein the first and second protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 39 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein the first and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 46 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon and wherein the second tube section is shorter than the first tube section and has a portion which is positioned within the first tube section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein the second tube section has an outwardly projecting lip at a distal end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 79 words
In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon; a first balloon protector covering a proximal expandable portion of the balloon, the first balloon protector having a first inner diameter; and a second balloon protector covering a distal expandable portion of the balloon, the second balloon protector having a second, smaller inner diameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 79 words
In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon; a first balloon protector covering a proximal expandable portion of the balloon, the first balloon protector having a first inner diameter; and a second balloon protector covering a distal expandable portion of the balloon, the second balloon protector having a second, smaller inner diameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 18 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein the first and second balloon protectors are connected together in end-to-end relationship.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 31 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein the second balloon protector has a female connector portion at a proximal end into which a distal end of the first balloon protector is inserted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination of claim 23, wherein the first and second balloon protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 39 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein the first and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 46 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon and wherein the second tube section is shorter than the first tube section and has a portion which is positioned within the first tube section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein the second tube section has an outwardly projecting lip at a distal end.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 64 words
In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon; and a multisegment balloon protector formed by a plurality of separable tubular members each of which covers and tightly fits over a different expandable portion of the deflated balloon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 64 words
In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon; and a multisegment balloon protector formed by a plurality of separable tubular members each of which covers and tightly fits over a different expandable portion of the deflated balloon.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-08-11 1996-02-10 1996-08-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-11 2000-02-10 2000-08-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-11 2004-02-10 2004-08-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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