Low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter with shapeable and/or deflectable tip and method

Claim 2

A low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having an outer cylindrical surface and a lumen disposed inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal extremity to the flexible elongate tubular member, means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member for establishing communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon and inflation means removably secured to the proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon, said removable inflation means including means forming a first high-pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said removable inflation means when removed providing a proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that a balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said flexible elongate tubular member having at least one side opening therein in communication with the lumen, said removable inflation means including means forming a second high pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said first and second high pressure seals being disposed on opposite sides of the at least one side opening so that the inflation fluid from the removable inflation means passes through said side opening.

Claim 3

A low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having an outer cylindrical surface and a lumen disposed inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member for establishing communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon and removable inflation means removably secured to the proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon, said removable inflation means including means forming a high-pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said removable inflation means when removed providing a proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that a balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and steerable means carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said steerable means including conducting means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member and connected to the steerable means and extending to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, an electrical connector removably connected to the conductive means at the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said electrical connector when removed providing a proximal extremity for the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that another balloon catheter can be advanced over the flexible elongate tubular member with the flexible elongate tubular member serving as a guide wire.

Claim 4

A low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having an outer cylindrical surface and a lumen disposed inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member for establishing communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon and removable inflation means removably secured to the proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon, said removable inflation means including means forming a high-pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said removable inflation means when removed providing a proximal extremity of the outer cylindrical surface of the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that a balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and steerable means carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said steerable means including conducting means carried by the flexible elongate tubular member and connected to the steerable means and extending to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, an electrical connector removably connected to the conductive means at the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said electrical connector when removed providing a proximal extremity for the flexible elongate tubular member which is free of obstructions so that another balloon catheter can be advanced over the flexible elongate tubular member with the flexible elongate tubular member serving as a guide wire.

Claim 5

A catheter as in claim 2 wherein said conductive means includes said flexible elongate tubular member serving as one conductor and conductor means carried by said flexible elongate tubular member and insulated therefrom to serve as another conductor.