Catheter having an improved balloon-to-catheter bond
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorLixiao Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tie layer insert is disclosed to aid in bond formation between an expandable balloon and a distal portion of a catheter shaft. The tie layer insert can be a single layer applied directly to the structural surfaces, or alternatively, the tie layer may be incorporated into a preformed polymeric insert. In the latter embodiment, the polymeric insert may include several layers of polymeric material. During the manufacturing process, the preformed polymeric insert is positioned between the distal portion of the expandable balloon and the catheter shaft. The entire distal region is then processed to form a sealably bonded expandable balloon to the distal end of the catheter shaft.
Claims22
A balloon catheter assembly comprising:
- a first tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a lumen extending the length therein;
- a discreet length of tie layer insert disposed over a portion of the distal segment of the first tubular member;
- and
- a balloon having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an expandable region therebetween, wherein at least one of the proximal portion or the distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the discreet length of tie layer.
A balloon catheter comprising:
- a first tubular member having a lumen extending the length therein;
- a second tubular member coaxially disposed within at least a portion of the first tubular member with a distal segment extending distally beyond a distal end of the first tubular member;
- a tie layer insert disposed over a portion of the distal segment of the second tubular member;
- and
- a balloon having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an expandable region therebetween, the expandable region of the balloon being in fluid communication with the lumen of the first tubular member, further wherein at least a portion of the proximal portion of the balloon is affixed to the first tubular member and at least a portion of the distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the tie layer.
A balloon catheter comprising:
- a first tubular member having a lumen extending the length therein;
- a second tubular member coaxially disposed within at least a portion of the first tubular member with a distal segment extending distally beyond a distal end of the first tubular member;
- a polymeric insert disposed over and affixed to only a portion of the distal segment of the second tubular member;
- and
- a balloon having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an expandable region therebetween, the expandable region of the balloon being in fluid communication with the lumen of the first tubular member, further wherein the proximal portion of the balloon is affixed to the first tubular member at a first attachment site and the distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the polymeric insert at a second attachment site.
A balloon catheter comprising:
- a first tubular member having a lumen extending the length therein;
- a second tubular member coaxially disposed within at least a portion of the first tubular member with a distal segment extending distally beyond a distal end of the first tubular member;
- a polymeric insert disposed over at least a portion of the distal segment of the second tubular member;
- and
- a balloon having a proximal balloon waist, a distal balloon waist and an expandable region therebetween, the balloon further comprising a polymeric material having a bonding affinity with both the first tubular member and the polymeric insert while lacking a bonding affinity with the second tubular member, further wherein the proximal balloon waist of the balloon is affixed to the first tubular member and the distal balloon waist of the balloon is affixed to the polymeric insert.
A process for improved bonding between an expandable balloon and a catheter shaft, the process comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter shaft having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, wherein the inner tubular member has a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therein, and further wherein the inner tubular member is coaxially disposed within at least a portion of the outer tubular, with a portion of the inner tubular member extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer tubular member;
- providing a polymeric insert;
- disposing the polymeric insert over a portion of the inner tubular member extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer tubular member;
- providing an expandable balloon having a first end, a second end and an expandable region therebetween;
- affixing the first end of the expandable balloon to a portion of the outer tubular member;
- and
- affixing the second end of the expandable balloon to a portion of the polymeric insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.