Centering balloon catheter

Claim 2

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 3

The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said outer balloon is less compliant than said inner balloon.

Claim 4

The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said central lumen is sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough.

Claim 5

The catheter according to claim 1 further including a guidewire lumen.

Claim 6

The catheter according to claim 4 wherein said guidewire lumen comprises a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 7

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; and b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 8

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; and b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 9

The catheter according to claim 6 wherein said central lumen is sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough.

Claim 10

The catheter according to claim 6 further including a guidewire lumen.

Claim 11

The catheter according to claim 8 wherein said guidewire lumen comprises a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 12

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends and being sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel; and c. a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 13

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends and being sealed at its distal end so as to substantially prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable substantially non-compliant outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable substantially compliant inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon which pushes against both said vessel and said shaft when inflated whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel; and c. a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 14

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising spiral balloon surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 15

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising spiral balloon surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 16

The catheter according to claim 11 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-complaint and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

Claim 17

The catheter according to claim 12 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 18

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a segmented balloon having a plurality of annular segments, said plurality of annular segments surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 19

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a segmented balloon having a plurality of annular segments, said plurality of annular segments surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 20

The catheter according to claim 14 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-compliant and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

Claim 21

The catheter according to claim 15 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.

Claim 22

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a plurality of longitudinal segments, wherein each segment is substantially parallel to said inner shaft, said plurality of segments substantially surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 23

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a patient, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter comprising: a. an elongated flexible shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft having a central lumen extending therethrough, said central lumen also having distal and proximal ends, said shaft further including an inflation lumen; b. an inflatable outer balloon disposed at said distal end of said catheter, an inflatable inner balloon disposed within said outer balloon, said inner balloon being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen for inflation and deflation thereof, said central lumen extending through said inner balloon and said inner balloon being a centering balloon comprising a plurality of longitudinal segments, wherein each segment is substantially parallel to said inner shaft, said plurality of segments substantially surrounding a predetermined portion of said distal end of said central lumen whereby when said inner balloon is at least partially inflated said distal end of said central lumen is substantially centered within said vessel.

Claim 24

The catheter according to claim 17 wherein said inner balloon is substantially non-compliant and said outer balloon is substantially compliant.

Claim 25

The catheter according to claim 18 further including a guidewire lumen comprising a tubular channel disposed distally of said inner and outer balloons, said channel adapted to receive said guidewire.