Dilating catheter

Abstract

Abstract A dilating catheter for insertion into a body duct. The catheter includes an outer tubular member having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion has a radially deformable portion having a balloon, and, on either side of said balloon, at least one opening communicating with said body duct and enabling the fluid in the duct to pass therethrough; an inner tubular member (1); and a microtube (7) having one end located inside the balloon while the other end is connected to a fluid supply for inflating and deflating said balloon. The balloon (2) includes an outer wall designed to contact the inner wall of the body duct in the operative position, and an inner wall sealably attached to said outer wall and capable of defining an inner annular cavity therewith in the operative position. Said catheter further includes a shaped supporting member for retaining said inner balloon wall in the operative position while enabling the circulation of body fluid in the space between said inner element and the inner wall (9) of the balloon. The catheter is particularly useful for treating disorders of the coronary arteries.

Inventors

• 👤 Georges Boussignac
• 👤 Jean-Claude Labrune

Bibliographic Details