# US 2019/0167945 A1 · Permeable structural interface for the construction of thin-walled balloon catheters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167945 A1 - Document ID: US20190167945A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/265,692 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-12 - Assignees: Cognition Medical Corp - Applicants: Cognition Medical Corp - Inventors: Alexis S. TURJMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167945A1 ## CPC - A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features} - A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) - A61M 25/0032: {characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts} - A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids} - A61M 2025/0039: {characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially} - A61M 2025/0057: {Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings} - A61M 2025/0059: {having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking} - A61M 2025/006: {having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface} - A61M 2025/1061: {having separate inflations tubes, e.g. coaxial tubes or tubes otherwise arranged apart from the catheter tube} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to the construction of thin-walled balloon catheters where navigability, low cross-sectional profile, and low inflation and deflation times are desired. Structural reinforcement of inflation lumen utilizes a soft, flexible, permeable material to fill the fluid channel to maintain patency of the lumen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter configured to maintain patency of a fluid lumen, comprising: a catheter body having at least one fluid lumen defined therethrough; a structural interface disposed within the at least one fluid lumen, wherein the structural interface is configured to be permeable to fluids and further has a structural integrity which is sufficient so as to inhibit contact between walls of the fluid lumen such that patency of the fluid lumen is maintained. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the fluid lumen is defined within a wall of the catheter body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter is comprised of a primary lumen and a secondary lumen coaxially aligned about the primary lumen and forming the fluid lumen therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3 wherein the structural interface is comprised of a braid positioned between the primary lumen and the secondary lumen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the structural interface is comprised of an array of micro-pillars extending between an outer wall of the primary lumen and an inner wall of the secondary lumen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars is attached to the outer wall of the primary lumen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars is attached to the inner wall of the secondary lumen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a first spacing density along a first portion of the catheter and a second spacing density along a second portion of the catheter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a non-uniform spacing density. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a first set of micro-pillars having a first height and a second set of micro-pillars having a second height which is different from the first height. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5 wherein the array of micro-pillars is configured to have a shape which is cylindrical, rectangular, diamond-shaped, elongated diamond-shaped, elliptical, conical, pyramidal, or hemispherical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3 wherein the structural interface comprises one or more grooves defined along an outer surface of the primary lumen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the fluid lumen defines a cross-section having an arcuate shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter body comprises a first proximal portion without the structural interface and a second distal portion having the structural interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The catheter of claim 14 wherein the first proximal portion comprises a primary lumen and a secondary lumen coaxially aligned about the primary lumen and forming the fluid lumen therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The catheter of claim 14 wherein the second distal portion defines an annular orthogonal cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The catheter of claim 14 wherein the fluid lumen along the first proximal portion has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The catheter of claim 14 wherein the structural interface along the second distal portion has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 19 A catheter configured to maintain patency of a fluid lumen, comprising: a catheter body having a primary lumen and a secondary lumen coaxially aligned about the primary lumen and forming a fluid lumen therebetween; an array of micro-pillars disposed within the fluid lumen at a predetermined density and configuration and extending between an outer wall of the primary lumen and an inner wall of the secondary lumen, wherein the array of micro-pillars is configured to be permeable to fluids and further has a structural integrity which is sufficient so as to inhibit contact between walls of the fluid lumen such that patency of the fluid lumen is maintained. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars is attached to the outer wall of the primary lumen. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars is attached to the inner wall of the secondary lumen. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a first spacing density along a first portion of the catheter and a second spacing density along a second portion of the catheter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a non-uniform spacing density. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars has a first set of micro-pillars having a first height and a second set of micro-pillars having a second height which is different from the first height. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the array of micro-pillars is configured to have a shape which is cylindrical, rectangular, diamond-shaped, elongated diamond-shaped, elliptical, conical, pyramidal, or hemispherical. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the fluid lumen defines a cross-section having an arcuate shape. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19 wherein the catheter body comprises a first proximal portion without the array and a second distal portion having the array. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The catheter of claim 27 wherein the fluid lumen along the first proximal portion has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The catheter of claim 27 wherein the fluid lumen along the second distal portion has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 30 A method of maintaining lumen patency, comprising: providing a catheter body having a primary lumen and a secondary lumen coaxially aligned about the primary lumen and forming a fluid lumen therebetween; and forming an array of micro-pillars disposed within the fluid lumen at a predetermined density and configuration and extending between an outer wall of the primary lumen and an inner wall of the secondary lumen, wherein the array of micro-pillars is configured to be permeable to fluids and further has a structural integrity which is sufficient so as to inhibit contact between walls of the fluid lumen such that patency of the fluid lumen is maintained.