A non-occlusive balloon catheter

A balloon catheter comprising:

• a catheter tube defining a longitudinal axis, an inflation passage defined within the catheter tube and having an outlet;
• a flexible envelope which engages the catheter tube at least at a proximal end section and a distal end section to envelope the outlet to provide at least one balloon component which is adapted to provide a plurality of confined sections and a plurality of expansive sections, and is inflatable, by inflow of an inflation fluid through the outlet, from a deflated state to an inflated state, wherein, in the inflated state, the balloon component provides a plurality of lobes with each lobe being at least partially co-extensive with a respective expansive section, along a working length, with respective ends of each lobe tapering at respective cone sections to the proximal and distal end sections respectively, and a plurality of channels, with each channel being at least partially co-extensive with a respective confined section and each channel is formed between a pair of lobes;
• a tubiform brace which engages an exterior of the flexible envelope, and which includes at least a proximal-end hub and a distal-end hub, and a plurality of longitudinally extending tensile elements, which extend between and connect the proximal-end and distal-end hubs, and which extend along a respective confined section to confine the section in the inflated state to provide a respective channel and, as adjacent expansive sections inflate through a respective gap between elements, to provide respective lobes, wherein the brace is made from filaments which are formed to provide the hubs, elements, and gaps;
• and
• wherein, at an outermost radial limit, the plurality of lobes defines a major diameter, and, at an innermost radial limit, the plurality of channels define a minor diameter.