Performance enhancement adaptor for intravascular balloon catheter

A method of treating an affected region of a blood vessel, the method comprising:

• inserting into the blood vessel a catheter comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a balloon connected at the distal end of the shaft, the balloon communicating with an inflation lumen of the catheter shaft;
• positioning the balloon adjacent the affected region of the blood vessel;
• inserting within the blood vessel, between the shaft of the catheter and a wall of the blood vessel, a hollow member having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening between the proximal end and the distal end, and an elongated member attached to the hollow member for positioning the hollow member in contact with a surface of the balloon;
• applying a longitudinal force to the elongated member to locate the hollow member within the blood vessel adjacent to the balloon;
• and
• inflating the balloon so as to apply a force to the wall of the blood vessel and a surface of the hollow member, the force securing the hollow member against the balloon so as to effect a performance not capable by the balloon alone.

A method of modifying an inflatable balloon of a dilatation balloon catheter, the method comprising:

• inserting into the blood vessel a catheter comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an inflatable balloon connected at the distal end of the shaft, the balloon communicating with an inflation lumen of the catheter shaft;
• positioning the balloon adjacent the affected region of the blood vessel;
• inserting within the blood vessel, between the shaft of the catheter and a wall of the blood vessel, a hollow member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated member attached to the hollow member for positioning the hollow member in contact with a surface of the balloon;
• applying a longitudinal force to the elongated member to locate the hollow member within the blood vessel adjacent to the balloon, with the proximal end and the distal end of the hollow member exposed past a proximal end and a distal end of the balloon;
• and
• inflating the balloon so as to cause at least part of the surface of the balloon to exert a force on a surface of the hollow member, the force securing the surface of the hollow member against the surface of the balloon such that the hollow member establishes a fluid pathway past the inflated balloon.

A method of modifying an inflatable balloon of a dilatation balloon catheter, the method comprising:

• inserting into the blood vessel a catheter comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a compliant, inflatable balloon connected at the distal end of the shaft, the balloon communicating with an inflation lumen of the catheter shaft;
• positioning the balloon adjacent the affected region of the blood vessel;
• inserting within the blood vessel, between the shaft of the catheter and a wall of the blood vessel, a hollow member having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, an inner surface, the outer surface defining a predetermined diameter of the hollow member along at least a portion of the hollow member and an elongated member attached to the hollow member for positioning the hollow member in contact with a surface of the balloon;
• applying a longitudinal force to the elongated member to position the inner surface of the hollow member over the balloon, with the proximal end and the distal end of the hollow member generally aligned with a proximal end and a distal end of the balloon;
• and
• inflating the balloon so as to cause an outer surface of the balloon to expand within the hollow member, the hollow member restricting a radial size of the balloon to the predetermined diameter of the hollow member and increasing an inflation pressure tolerance of the balloon.