Balloon inflation measurement apparatus
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsLouis Ellis, Roger N. Hastings, Ling Shang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved balloon catheter for angioplasty and the like for measuring the inflation of a balloon after insertion into the body. A pair of electrodes are mounted in spaced relation within the balloon interior wall such that as the internal area within the balloon is varied by inflation of the balloon with an electrically conductive fluid, the electrodes monitor the changing electrical resistance between the electrodes. The electrodes are connected through the catheter to an external electrical measurement circuit for measuring the change in resistance and thus determining the amount of balloon inflation.
Claims19
Apparatus for measuring balloon inflation comprising:
- (a) an expandable balloon;
- (b) an electrically conductive inflation fluid;
- (c) at least first and second electrodes mounted in spaced relation within the balloon;
- (d) means for applying the electrically conductive inflation fluid within the balloon and for varying the internal area of the balloon;
- and
- (e) electrical connection means connected to the electrodes and adapted to connect the electrodes to an electrical circuit for measuring electrical parameters between the electrodes.
In a balloon catheter including a balloon having an interior wall and mounted at a distal end of the catheter and an inflation lumen connected to the interior of the balloon and extending at least to a proximal end of the catheter, and a balloon inflation measurement apparatus, the improvement comprising:
- a. an electrically conductive balloon inflation fluid;
- b. means connected to the proximal end of the inflation lumen for selectively providing the inflation fluid therethrough to the interior of the balloon;
- c. at least a pair of electrical electrodes within the balloon in spaced relation for monitoring changes in resistance as the inflation fluid varies the internal area of the balloon;
- and
- d. electrical connection means connected to the pair of electrodes and adapted to electrically connect an electrical measurement circuit to the pair of electrodes for measuring electrical parameters therebetween.
The method of measuring balloon expansion in a balloon catheter comprising the steps of:
- a. mounting at least one pair of electrical electrodes in spaced relation within the balloon
- b. electrically connecting the electrodes to an electrical measurement circuit;
- c. inflating the balloon with an electrically conductive fluid to change the internal area of the balloon;
- and
- d. monitoring an electrical parameter between the pair of electrodes with the measurement circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.