Detachable balloon catheter apparatus and method

A detachable balloon catheter apparatus comprising:

• a hollow, single lumen introducer catheter having a fitting at the trailing end thereof for connection to a source of pressurized fluid;
• an inflatable balloon positioned at the leading end of said introducer catheter, said balloon having an opening that is in fluid communication with the lumen of said introducer catheter;
• and
• valve means for automatically plugging the opening of said balloon after the balloon is inflated to a predetermined amount by said pressurized fluid, said valve means having one end thereof attached to the distal end of said balloon.

A detachable balloon catheter apparatus comprising:

• a hollow, single lumen introducer catheter having a fitting at the trailing end thereof for connection to a source of pressurized fluid;
• an inflatable balloon positioned at the leading end of said introducer catheter, said balloon having an opening that is in fluid communication with the lumen of said introducer catheter;
• valve seat means comprising an elongated elastomeric member having a leading end that extends into the interior of said balloon and having a trailing end that protrudes out of the opening to said balloon and is stretched to frictionally fit over the leading end of said introducer catheter;
• valve means for automatically engaging said valve seat means in fluid-tight engagement after said balloon is inflated by said pressurized fluid, said valve means comprising an elongated stem that telescopically extends through the leading end of said valve seat means and that is bonded to the distal end of said balloon, said stem having at the trailing end thereof an enlarged head portion adapted to engage said valve seat means in a fluid-tight seal, said enlarged head portion of said stem being initially positioned inside the leading end of said introducer catheter;
• fluid communication means for permitting said pressurized fluid to flow around said enlarged head portion of said valve means;
• and
• a collar member which fits over the leading end of said valve seat means and which prevents said inflatable balloon from being bonded to said collar member.

In the use of a detachable balloon catheter assembly comprising a single lumen introducer catheter with a fitting at the trailing end thereof for connection to a source of pressurized fluid, an inflatable balloon positioned at the leading end of said introducer catheter, and a valve means positioned at the opening of said balloon, said valve means having one end thereof attached to the interior surface of said balloon, a method of inflating and detaching said balloon from said introducer catheter after it is inflated, the method comprising the steps of:

• injecting said pressurized fluid into said balloon so as to inflate the balloon;
• automatically plugging the opening to said balloon with said valve means when said balloon is inflated to a predetermined amount;
• and
• thereafter detaching said inflated balloon after it is plugged by said valve means by continued injection of said pressurized fluid.