Variable length balloon
AssigneeCook Incorporated
InventorsNeha Bhagchandani, Alyson M. Tews, Elizabeth M. Theobald, Alina Costin, Christopher Michael Mobley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable length balloon catheter assembly and methods for inflating a variable length balloon to a predetermined length. The variable length balloon catheter has a balloon at a distal end and a plurality of stricture mechanisms securing the balloon to the catheter. The stricture mechanisms are provided at known intervals and have a known rupture pressure. The balloon is inflated and a known number of stricture mechanisms are ruptured providing for a variable balloon length based on the number of stricture mechanisms ruptured.
Claims17
A balloon catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
- a variable length balloon disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the variable length balloon having an inner volume in fluid communication with the lumen and being defined by an outer surface of the catheter and an inner surface of a balloon wall;
- and
- a first pressure dependent stricture mechanism constricting a first circumferential portion of the balloon wall proximate the outer surface of the catheter, the first pressure dependent stricture mechanism having a first pre-determined rupture pressure;
- a second pressure dependent stricture mechanism constricting a second circumferential portion of the balloon wall proximate the outer surface of the catheter, the second pressure dependent stricture mechanism having a second pre-determined rupture pressure;
- and
- whereby the first pressure dependent stricture mechanism and the second pressure dependent stricture mechanism divide the inner volume into longitudinal sections.
A method for varying the length of a balloon on a balloon catheter, the balloon comprising at a balloon wall enclosing an inner volume and a first plurality of stricture mechanism dividing the balloon into uniform lengths with each stricture mechanism having a predetermined rupture pressure threshold, the method comprising:
- guiding the balloon to an inflation location;
- determining a desired length to inflate the balloon;
- determining a second plurality of stricture mechanism to rupture to achieve a working length near the desired length;
- for each of the plurality of stricture mechanisms, rupturing the stricture mechanism by introducing fluid into the inner volume of the balloon sufficient to exceed the rupture pressure threshold of the stricture mechanisms;
- and
- introducing fluid to expand the balloon at a pressure less than a predetermined rupture pressure threshold of a stricture mechanism not among the second plurality of stricture mechanisms.
A method of manufacturing a variable length catheter assembly comprising:
- obtaining a catheter having at least one inflation lumen and an inflation port in fluid communication with the inflation lumen;
- placing a balloon material about an outer surface of the catheter at a distal end of the catheter;
- securing the balloon material in a circumferential strip to the outer surface of the catheter proximal to the inflation port;
- securing the balloon material in a circumferential strip to the outer surface of the catheter distal to the inflation port;
- and
- attaching a plurality of pressure dependent stricture mechanisms in circumferential strips about the catheter, the plurality of pressure dependent stricture mechanisms forming a pressure dependent attachment of the circumferential strip of the balloon material to the outer surface of the catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.