Medical devices having inflatable portions
US4624657A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1983 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M25/10
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical device includes a flexible, elongated tube having a continuous, smooth, outer surface, adapted for introduction into the body, and a connection for introducing inflation fluid into the space defined by the length of the tube. The tube is elastomer and the tube wall is in a weakened state while adjacent portions of the tube are not so weakened, the wall of the selected portion having a lower resistance to expansion than adjacent portions. By use of heat-sensitive, annealable plastic, a tube of uniform thickness is weakened at a selected location by annealing. The selected limited-length portion, by reason of its weakened state, is adapted to preferentially respond to pressure of inflation fluid within the tube by expanding transversely to a balloon shape larger than adjacent portions of the tube that are subjected to the same pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a tube surrounded by a sleeve having the limited-length, preferentially expansive portion and anti-stick means in the preferred form of a porous inner sleeve extends between the outer sleeve and the central member. The outer sleeve extends about the end of the central member to define the lead s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.