# US 12,178,976 B2 · Reinforced balloon catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,976 B2 - Document ID: US12178976B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/822,006 - Filed: 2022-08-24 - Published: 2022-12-22 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-21 - Assignees: MicroVention, Inc. - Applicants: MicroVention, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph A. Gulachenski; Roland Guyon; Cathy Lei; Nelson Peralta; Tadele Haile Wolde-Meskel; Russell Corvese - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178976B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/10185: {Valves} - A61M 25/0045: {multi-layered, e.g. coated (coating materials A61L29/08)} - A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids} - A61M 25/0053: {having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid} - A61M 25/1006: {Balloons formed between concentric tubes} - A61M 2025/1077: {having a system for expelling the air out of the balloon before inflation and use} - 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 balloon catheter is described, having a reinforced, co-axial, dual lumen design. At least one of the lumens is formed of a multilayer, tubular element in which one of the layers functions, in part, to provide radial reinforcement to the tubular element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A balloon catheter, comprising: a balloon attached to a distal portion of a tubular member, wherein the tubular member includes an inflation lumen in communication with the balloon; a purge passage extending between an interior of the balloon and an exterior of the tubular member; and a first liner connected to the purge passage; the purge passage having an open configuration to allow movement of fluid through the purge passage to the exterior of the tubular member and a closed configuration to prevent movement of fluid through the purge passage; and, wherein, in an inflated configuration, the first liner expands so as to obstruct at least a portion of the purge passage into the closed configuration without the first liner being exposed to an inflation liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, further comprising a second liner connected to the purge passage, wherein the second liner obstructs the purge passage when the purge passage is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein the first liner is positioned on a first side of the purge passage, wherein the second liner is positioned on a second side of the purge passage, and wherein the first side is opposite to the second side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the purge passage is sealed when in the closed configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein an entire length of the purge passage is sealed when in the closed configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the first liner obstructs the purge passage in response to an aspiration pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the purge passage includes a restricting member which prevents over-aspiration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the restricting member is comprised of a wall region having an increased thickness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The balloon catheter of claim 7, wherein the restricting member is comprised of a projection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the purge passage has an elliptical shape when in the open configuration. ### Claim 11 A balloon catheter, comprising: a balloon attached to a distal portion of a tubular member, wherein the tubular member includes an inflation lumen in communication with the balloon; a purge passage extending between an interior of the balloon and an exterior of the tubular member; and a first liner connected to a first side of the purge passage; a second liner connected to the purge passage, wherein the first liner is positioned at a first radial position along a circumference of the purge passage, wherein the second liner is positioned at a second radial position along the circumference of the purge passage, and wherein the first radial position is opposite to the second radial position; the purge passage having an open configuration to allow movement of fluid through the purge passage to the exterior of the tubular member and a closed configuration to prevent movement of fluid through the purge passage; and, wherein the first liner and the second liner obstruct the purge passage when the purge passage is in the closed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the purge passage is sealed when in the closed configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the first liner and the second liner obstruct the purge passage in response to a vacuum pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the first liner and the second liner obstruct the purge passage without being exposed to fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the purge passage includes a restricting member which blocks flow at a proximal end of the purge passage when the balloon is collapsed over the purge passage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The balloon catheter of claim 14, wherein the restricting member is positioned at a proximal end of the purge passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The balloon catheter of claim 14, wherein the restricting member is comprised of a bump. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the purge passage has a C- or D-shaped cross-section when in the open configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11, further comprising a hydrophilic swellable material adjacent to the purge passage. ### Claim 19 A balloon catheter, comprising: a balloon attached to a distal portion of a tubular member, wherein the tubular member includes an inflation lumen in communication with the balloon; a purge passage incorporated into a wall of a distal portion of the balloon, the purge passage having an open configuration to allow movement of fluid through the purge passage to an exterior of the tubular member and a closed configuration to prevent movement of fluid through the purge passage; and, a first liner means for obstructing the purge passage when the purge passage is in the closed configuration; and, wherein, in an inflated configuration, the first liner means expands so as to obstruct at least a portion of the purge passage into the closed configuration without the first liner means being exposed to an inflation liquid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The balloon catheter of claim 19, further comprising a second liner means connected to the purge passage, wherein the first liner means is positioned at a first radial position along a circumference of the purge passage, wherein the second liner means is positioned at a second radial position along the circumference of the purge passage, and wherein the first radial position is opposite to the second radial position.