US5320605A — Multi-wire multi-balloon catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter for treating a site within a body lumen, comprising: a first elongate flexible wire; a first dilatation balloon on said first wire, said first dilatation balloon having at least one lumen extending at least part way through the balloon from the proximal edge thereof towards the distal edge thereof; a second elongate flexible wire; and a second dilatation balloon on said second wire, said second wire having a distally extending advance wire on the distal side of said second balloon; wherein at least a portion of the advance wire extends within the proximal opening of the lumen on said first balloon.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 107 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter for treating a site within a body lumen, comprising: a first elongate flexible wire; a first dilatation balloon on said first wire, said first dilatation balloon having at least one lumen extending at least part way through the balloon from the proximal edge thereof towards the distal edge thereof; a second elongate flexible wire; and a second dilatation balloon on said second wire, said second wire having a distally extending advance wire on the distal side of said second balloon; wherein at least a portion of the advance wire extends within the proximal opening of the lumen on said first balloon.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 90 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a lumen extending at least part way into said second balloon, from the proximal end thereof towards the distal end thereof; and a third elongate flexible wire having a third dilatation balloon thereon, said third wire having a distally extending advance wire on the distal side of the third balloon; wherein the distal end of the advance wire on the third balloon extends at least part way into the lumen on the proximal end of said second balloon.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in claim 1, wherein said lumen extends axially throughout the entire length of said first dilatation balloon.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in wherein said second balloon has an inflated profile which is different than the inflated profile of the first balloon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multiple wire multiple balloon catheter as in wherein said second balloon has an inflated profile which is different than the inflated profile of the first balloon.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of exchanging two or more balloons within a site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing a multiple wire multiple balloon catheter of the type having a first balloon secured to a first flexible wire and a second balloon secured to a second flexible wire, said first balloon having a lumen extending therethrough; positioning said first balloon within a preselected body site; inflating said first balloon to dilate said site; and thereafter exchanging the relative positions of said first and second balloons by advancing said second balloon axially through the lumen in said first balloon.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of exchanging two or more balloons within a site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing a multiple wire multiple balloon catheter of the type having a first balloon secured to a first flexible wire and a second balloon secured to a second flexible wire, said first balloon having a lumen extending therethrough; positioning said first balloon within a preselected body site; inflating said first balloon to dilate said site; and thereafter exchanging the relative positions of said first and second balloons by advancing said second balloon axially through the lumen in said first balloon.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of deflating said first balloon prior to the step of advancing the second balloon axially therethrough.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of withdrawing the first balloon in a proximal direction following evacuation thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein said exchanging step comprises advancing said second balloon distally.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein said exchanging step comprises retracting said first balloon proximally.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of positioning said second balloon.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as in claim 10, wherein said positioning step comprises positioning said second balloon at the same site where the first balloon was dilated.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of sequential dilatation of a preselected site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of: introducing a multiple balloon multiple wire catheter into said body lumen, said catheter comprising at least a first dilatation balloon mounted on a first flexible wire and a second dilatation balloon mounted on a second flexible wire, wherein the distal end of the second flexible wire is releasably secured with respect to the first dilatation balloon; positioning the first dilatation balloon at a preselected site; dilating the first dilatation balloon to radially expand said site; deflating said first balloon; axially displacing said first balloon in a distal direction with respect to said second balloon thereby disengaging the distal tip of said second wire from said first balloon; and thereafter withdrawing said first balloon in a proximal direction.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of sequential dilatation of a preselected site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of: introducing a multiple balloon multiple wire catheter into said body lumen, said catheter comprising at least a first dilatation balloon mounted on a first flexible wire and a second dilatation balloon mounted on a second flexible wire, wherein the distal end of the second flexible wire is releasably secured with respect to the first dilatation balloon; positioning the first dilatation balloon at a preselected site; dilating the first dilatation balloon to radially expand said site; deflating said first balloon; axially displacing said first balloon in a distal direction with respect to said second balloon thereby disengaging the distal tip of said second wire from said first balloon; and thereafter withdrawing said first balloon in a proximal direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of positioning said second balloon within the body site.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 13, further comprising the step of dilating said second balloon.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 100 words

A balloon catheter for releasably engaging at least one other balloon catheter for insertion into a body lumen as a single unit but which is capable of simultaneous or sequential dilatation of a preselected site with two or more distinct balloons; said catheter comprising: an elongate flexible wire; an inflatable balloon on the wire, in fluid communication with at least one inflation lumen extending axially through the catheter; and an engagement structure on the catheter for engaging the distal tip of a second balloon catheter of the type having an elongate flexible wire and at least one inflatable balloon thereon.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 100 words

A balloon catheter for releasably engaging at least one other balloon catheter for insertion into a body lumen as a single unit but which is capable of simultaneous or sequential dilatation of a preselected site with two or more distinct balloons; said catheter comprising: an elongate flexible wire; an inflatable balloon on the wire, in fluid communication with at least one inflation lumen extending axially through the catheter; and an engagement structure on the catheter for engaging the distal tip of a second balloon catheter of the type having an elongate flexible wire and at least one inflatable balloon thereon.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

A balloon catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure is on the balloon.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

A balloon catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure is on the catheter shaft.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

A catheter as in claim 15, wherein said engagement structure comprises an opening on the proximal end of said first dilatation balloon.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

A dilatation catheter as in claim 18, wherein said opening is in communication with a lumen extending axially throughout the length of the first balloon.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

A dilatation catheter as in claim 18, together in combination with a second dilatation catheter of the same structure, wherein the distal tip of said second dilatation catheter is engaged within the opening on the proximal end of said first dilatation balloon.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of relieving stenotic regions of a body lumen, comprising the steps of: inserting into said body lumen a first dilation catheter having a first balloon, and an axially elongate first wire, so that only a small advance wire segment extends beyond the distal end of said first balloon, said first balloon having at least one lumen extending axially therethrough; simultaneously inserting into said body lumen a second catheter having a second balloon, and an axially elongate wire extending through said second catheter, said second dilatation catheter positioned so that said second balloon trails the proximal shoulder of said first balloon during insertion; injecting a suitable pressurized fluid through said first catheter into said first balloon so as to increase the size of said first balloon; deflating said first balloon; withdrawing said first dilatation catheter with respect to said second catheter so that said second balloon is disposed in a relatively distal position; and inflating said second balloon.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of relieving stenotic regions of a body lumen, comprising the steps of: inserting into said body lumen a first dilation catheter having a first balloon, and an axially elongate first wire, so that only a small advance wire segment extends beyond the distal end of said first balloon, said first balloon having at least one lumen extending axially therethrough; simultaneously inserting into said body lumen a second catheter having a second balloon, and an axially elongate wire extending through said second catheter, said second dilatation catheter positioned so that said second balloon trails the proximal shoulder of said first balloon during insertion; injecting a suitable pressurized fluid through said first catheter into said first balloon so as to increase the size of said first balloon; deflating said first balloon; withdrawing said first dilatation catheter with respect to said second catheter so that said second balloon is disposed in a relatively distal position; and inflating said second balloon.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-06-13	1997-12-13	1998-06-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-06-13	2001-12-13	2002-06-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-06-13	2005-12-13	2006-06-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-wire multi-balloon catheter

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