US5352236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balloon protector
Assignee: PLUNKETT DIANNE M
•
Filing: 1992-09-29
•
Granted: 1994-10-04
•
Expires: 2012-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An elastomeric compression unit forming a balloon protector for a catheter and a catheter system having the balloon protector are disclosed. The balloon protector is formed of an elastomeric tube, preferably silicone, lined with lubricious material. The lubricious lining may be a coating such as silicone or may be a Teflon™ tube. The Teflon™ tube is split longitudinally, so that the compressive forces of the protector are transmitted through it to the balloon. In the preferred embodiment, the split is made tangential to the inner surface of the Teflon™ tube. In the catheter system, the inner lumen is preferably non-compressible, or a stylet is inserted within it to preclude its compression.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Jung
- 👤 Kazuo Sasamine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1079; A61M2025/1081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A balloon catheter system comprising: an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inflation lumen running through the shaft; a balloon wrapped about the distal end of the shaft and the balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and a balloon protector disposed about the wrapped balloon, the balloon protector comprising: an elongated elastomeric sleeve with a longitudinal lumen running therethrough; an elongated tube within the lumen of the sleeve, the sleeve having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the uninflated wrapped balloon on a catheter when the sleeve is in a relaxed state, the tube having an inner diameter smaller than that of the uninflated wrapped balloon when the tube is in a relaxed state, and the tube being made of a lubricous material and having a longitudinal slit defining a first end and a second end, the ends overlapping each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A balloon catheter system comprising: an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inflation lumen running through the shaft; a balloon wrapped about the distal end of the shaft and the balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and a balloon protector disposed about the wrapped balloon, the balloon protector comprising: an elongated elastomeric sleeve with a longitudinal lumen running therethrough; an elongated tube within the lumen of the sleeve, the sleeve having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the uninflated wrapped balloon on a catheter when the sleeve is in a relaxed state, the tube having an inner diameter smaller than that of the uninflated wrapped balloon when the tube is in a relaxed state, and the tube being made of a lubricous material and having a longitudinal slit defining a first end and a second end, the ends overlapping each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the tube is made of a different material than that of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the tube is formed of Teflon™.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed of a material having a durometer between about 15A and 65A.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is comprised of silicone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the slit is tangential to the inner surface of the tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the shaft further comprises an inner lumen running through the inflation lumen, the inner lumen being sealed from the inflation lumen and extending to at least the distal end of the balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 7 wherein the inner lumen is substantially non-compressible.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of compressing a balloon of a balloon catheter comprising the steps of: providing a catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon mounted thereon; providing an elastomeric sleeve; providing a tube with a longitudinal slit tangential to the inner surface of the tube; placing the tube in the sleeve; placing the balloon catheter in the tube; and removing the sleeve and tube prior to inserting the balloon catheter into the body.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of compressing a balloon of a balloon catheter comprising the steps of: providing a catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon mounted thereon; providing an elastomeric sleeve; providing a tube with a longitudinal slit tangential to the inner surface of the tube; placing the tube in the sleeve; placing the balloon catheter in the tube; and removing the sleeve and tube prior to inserting the balloon catheter into the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of compressing the balloon of the balloon catheter according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing the tube comprised of material having a durometer of about 15A to 65A.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3136417A
Cited
US4185375A
Cited
US4327735A
Cited
US4444186A
Cited
US4702252A
Cited
US4573981A
Cited
US4646722A
Cited
US4681092A
Cited
US4710181A
Cited
US4738666A
Cited
US5137512A
Cited
US5015231A
Cited
US5116318A
Cited
US5066298A
Cited
US5053007A
Cited
US5211654A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-03 | 1998-04-04 | 1998-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-03 | 2002-04-04 | 2002-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-03 | 2006-04-04 | 2006-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |