Dilatation catheter with collapsible outer diameter
US4820349A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1987 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/1081
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A balloon dilatation catheter having a balloon at its distal end includes a distal segment having a collapsible outer diameter. The distal segment includes an inner shaft and a generally coaxial outer surrounding sleeve formed from a very flexible, thin wall, high-strength polymeric material. The balloon is formed integrally with the sleeve and is collapsible about the shaft together with the sleeve. The distal segment of the catheter exhibits a high degree of trackability over a guidewire through tortuous blood vessels. When in its collapsed configuration, the distal segment of the catheter defines a reduced profile which is less obstructive to blood flow through the blood vessel containing the catheter distal segment, such as a coronary artery. In a modified embodiment of the invention, the flexible thin wall sleeve extends over a greater length of the catheter and may extend to the full length of the catheter. In the modified embodiment, when the sleeve is collapsed about the inner shaft a reduced profile is defined along the length of the catheter. When contained within a guide catheter, the dilatation catheter provides for an enlarged cross-sectional flow area within the guide…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.