Airway dilation device and associated method of deployment

An airway dilation device comprising:

• a catheter, being dimensioned and configured for insertion at least partially into an airway, the catheter having an inflating end, and a distal end;
• a continuous inflation tube, being housed substantially concentrically within the catheter, the inflation tube having a lumen defined by its inner wall, and terminating in the same inflating end as the catheter;
• a duct, for the insufflation of a fluid, the duct also being housed substantially concentrically within the catheter, and bounded by the inflation tube along at least some of the length thereof, the duct being sealed hermetically against any fluid flow communication between it and the inflation tube;
• a cluster of balloons, arranged in a substantially circular arrangement about wall of the catheter, the balloons being manipulated selectively between a stowed condition, in which the balloons are deflated, and a deployed condition, in which the balloons are inflated, and wherein each balloon further includes a proximal cone and a proximal tail formation on a proximal end of each respective balloon, and wherein each balloon further includes a distal cone and a distal tail on a distal end of each respective balloon;
• and
• inflating means, for inflating the balloons;
• characterised, first, in that, when in the stowed condition, each balloon is folded and staggered relative to each adjacent balloon, to prevent a substantial overlay between each pair of adjacent balloons, so as to achieve an optimal, smallest diameter of the complete cluster of balloons and characterised, second, in that continuous insufflation remains possible, even when the balloons are in their deployed condition
• wherein the distal tails of each balloon terminates in a common distal tip, the distal tip sealing the balloon arrangement hermetically, to as to facilitate pressurisation of the cluster on inflation, and to prevent the escape of inflating fluid into the airway.