Balloon catheter and method of use thereof
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorsSteen Aggerholm, Thomas Lysgaard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One aspect of the invention provides a balloon catheter having a distal tip that does not extend distally beyond the distal end of the catheter balloon when the catheter balloon is inflated. In one embodiment, the distal end of the catheter balloon has a substantially flat profile when inflated. Other aspects of the invention provide methods of manufacturing and of using the balloon catheter. In one embodiment, the balloon catheter is used in the treatment of kidney stones.
Claims16
1-20. (canceled)
A method for treating a vessel having an occluded portion comprising:
- positioning a distal end of a balloon catheter against the occluded portion, wherein the balloon catheter comprises:
- an inflatable balloon having an unfolded longitudinal dimension and comprising a proximal end, a middle region, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and
- a catheter shaft having a distal end, wherein the distal end of the inflatable balloon attaches to the distal end of the catheter shaft and wherein the proximal end of the inflatable balloon attaches to the catheter shaft at a distance from the distal end of the inflatable balloon that is less than the unfolded longitudinal dimension of the inflatable balloon, whereby the balloon is compressed in a longitudinal direction when not inflated, and wherein, when inflated, an inflated portion of the balloon extends distally at least to the distal end of the catheter shaft;
- inflating the inflatable balloon to an extent wherein a distal region of the inflatable balloon moves distally to at least the distal end of the catheter shaft and presses against the stone and against a wall of the vessel immediately adjacent to the stone,
- wherein the stone is a kidney stone or a gallstone.
A method for treating an urinary vessel having a portion occluded by a kidney stone comprising:
- positioning a distal end of a balloon catheter against the kidney stone, wherein the balloon catheter comprises:
- an inflatable balloon having an unfolded longitudinal dimension and comprising a proximal end, a middle region, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and
- a catheter shaft having a distal end, wherein the distal end of the inflatable balloon attaches to the distal end of the catheter shaft and wherein the proximal end of the inflatable balloon attaches to the catheter shaft at a distance from the distal end of the inflatable balloon that is less than the unfolded longitudinal dimension of the inflatable balloon, whereby the balloon is compressed in a longitudinal direction when not inflated, and wherein when inflated an inflated portion of the balloon extends distally beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft;
- inflating the inflatable balloon, whereby a distal region of the inflatable balloon moves distally to at least the distal end of the catheter shaft and presses against the stone and against a wall of the vessel immediately proximal to the kidney stone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.