# US 10,441,694 B2 · Medical balloon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,694 B2 - Document ID: US10441694B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/210,551 - Filed: 2016-07-14 - Published: 2017-01-19 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-15 - Assignees: Brunel University London - Applicants: Brunel University London - Inventors: Ashraf Khir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441694B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)} - A61M 25/1018: {Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices} - A61M 60/139: inside the aorta, e.g. intra-aortic balloon pumps - A61M 60/295: Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance - A61M 60/497: for balloon pumps for circulatory assistance - A61M 60/894: Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood - A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices - A61M 60/274: the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps - A61M 2025/102: {driven by a solenoid-activated pump} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A medical balloon for a balloon pump is disclosed. The medical balloon has a first end and a second end and a port at one of the ends for engaging a catheter for receiving an inflation fluid into the balloon. The balloon has one or more exterior walls defining, when the balloon is inflated at substantially a standard operating pressure, a taper along at least a part of the length of the balloon. The taper has two or more consecutive tapering sections, each tapering section having a different, substantially constant, angle of tapering. The balloon is substantially asymmetrical about a mid-point between the first and second ends when inflated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical balloon for a balloon pump, the medical balloon comprising a single balloon having a first end and a second end and a port at one of the ends for engaging a catheter for receiving an inflation fluid into the balloon, the balloon having an exterior wall defining, when the balloon is inflated at substantially a standard operating pressure, a taper along at least a part of a length of the balloon, the taper having a first tapering section directly adjoined to a second tapering section, each of the first tapering section and the second tapering section having a different, substantially constant, angle of tapering, the balloon being substantially asymmetrical about a mid-point between the first and second ends when inflated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon is fully inflated at the standard operating pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the taper is a first taper and tapers along the length of the balloon towards one of the first or second ends, the balloon further comprising a second taper having one or more tapering sections that taper along the length of the balloon towards the other of the first or second ends. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first taper expands towards its respective end and the second taper contracts towards its respective end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first taper contracts towards its respective end and the second taper expands towards its respective end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second tapers contract towards their respective ends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second tapers expand towards their respective ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, the exterior wall further defining, when the balloon is inflated at substantially a standard operating pressure, a substantially non-tapering section, the substantially non-tapering section being at least ⅓ the length of the balloon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claims in claim 1, wherein the exterior wall thickness increases along at least a part of the length of the balloon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 9, wherein the exterior wall thickness increases towards the second end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon is adapted for preferential inflation from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises an elastic polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises two or more portions, and wherein the two or more portions are formed from elastic polymers having different mechanical properties. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises a single chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one or more septa include one or more one-way valves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises two or more chambers separated by one or more septa. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A medical balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the one or more septa include one or more orifices. ### Claim 18 An intra-aortic medical pumping balloon comprising a single balloon having a first end and a second end and a port at one of the ends to engage a catheter, wherein upon receiving an inflation fluid via the catheter to inflate the balloon to a standard operating pressure, an exterior wall of the balloon defining a taper along at least a part of a length of the balloon, the taper having a first tapering section directly adjoined to a second tapering section, each of the first tapering section and the second tapering section having a different, substantially constant, angle of tapering, the balloon being substantially asymmetrical about a mid-point between the first and second ends when inflated.