Angioplasty balloon with an expandable external radiopaque marker band
US5759174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/1079
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An expandable external radiopaque marker band is situated external to the balloon of a balloon angioplasty catheter typically at the balloon's longitudinal center. When the balloon is inflated to dilate an arterial stenosis, the external radiopaque marker band is moved radially outward by the balloon thereby forcing the external radiopaque marker band into the arterial wall. When the balloon is then deflated, the external radiopaque marker band remains in place against the wall of the dilated stenosis. The balloon angioplasty catheter can then be removed from the artery while the expanded external radiopaque marker band remains in place to indicate (typically) the center position of the dilated stenosis. The external radiopaque marker band is typically made from a dense, radiopaque metal such as tantalum, gold, platinum or an alloy of those dense metals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.