Variable length balloon dilatation catheter

A variable length balloon catheter having a distal and a proximal end comprising:

• a. an inner tubular member having a proximal and distal end extending from the distal end of said catheter to the proximal end of said catheter having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough;
• b. an outer tubular member, generally co-axially received over said inner tubular member forming an inflation lumen therebetween, said outer tubular member terminating at a distal end proximate said distal end of said inner tubular member;
• c. an expandable balloon element having a distal waist, a proximal waist and an expandable portion therebetween, said distal waist sealably connected to said inner tubular member proximate its distal end and said proximal waist extending over and having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said inner tubular member to allow fluid flow therebetween, at least a portion of said expandable balloon element slidably received within a distal portion of said inflation lumen;
• and,
• d. a passive seal assembly slidably received within said inflation lumen, wherein said passive seal assembly prevents leakage of inflation fluid around said expandable balloon element during inflation.

A variable length balloon catheter having a distal and a proximal end comprising:

• a. an inner tubular member having a proximal and distal end extending from the distal end of said catheter to the proximal end of said catheter having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough;
• b. an outer tubular member, generally co-axially received over said inner tubular member forming an inflation lumen therebetween, said outer tubular member terminating at a distal end proximate said distal end of said inner tubular member;
• c. an expandable balloon element having a distal waist, a proximal waist and an expandable portion therebetween, said distal waist sealably connected to said inner tubular member proximate its distal end and said proximal waist extending over and having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said inner tubular member to allow fluid flow therebetween, at least a portion of said expandable balloon element slidably received within a distal portion of said inflation lumen;
• and,
• d. passive seal assembly, wherein said passive seal assembly comprises a controlled tolerance space between said outside diameter of said proximal waist of said balloon and said inside diameter of said outer tubular member proximate its distal end so that said proximal waist is slidably received therein but the pressure drop through said controlled tolerance space substantially reduces leakage during inflation.

A variable length balloon catheter having a distal and a proximal end comprising:

• a. an inner tubular member having a proximal and distal end extending from the distal end of said catheter to the proximal end of said catheter having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough;
• b. an outer tubular member, generally co-axially received over said inner tubular member forming an inflation lumen therebetween, said outer tubular member terminating at a distal end proximate said distal end of said inner tubular member;
• c. an expandable balloon element having a distal waist, a proximal waist and an expandable portion therebetween, said distal waist sealably connected to said inner tubular member proximate its distal end and said proximal waist extending over and having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said inner tubular member to allow fluid flow therebetween, at least a portion of said expandable balloon element slidably received within a distal portion of said inflation lumen, said balloon element further including a tubular support member inserted within the proximal waist of said balloon;
• d. a passive seal assembly, wherein said passive seal assembly prevents leakage of inflation fluid around said expandable balloon element during inflation.

A variable length balloon catheter having a distal and a proximal end comprising:

• a. an inner tubular member having a proximal and distal end extending from the distal end of said catheter to the proximal end of said catheter having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough;
• b. an outer tubular member, generally co-axially received over said inner tubular member forming an inflation lumen therebetween, said outer tubular member terminating at a distal end proximate said distal end of said inner tubular member;
• c. an expandable balloon element having a distal waist, a proximal waist and an expandable portion therebetween, wherein said expandable balloon element is substantially shorter than said inner tubular member with said distal waist sealably connected to said inner tubular member proximate its distal end and said proximal waist extending over and having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said inner tubular member to allow fluid flow therebetween, at least a portion of said expandable balloon element slidably received within a distal portion of said inflation lumen and said proximal waist of said expandable balloon element further terminating proximally substantially closer to said distal end of said catheter than said proximal end of said catheter;
• and,
• d. means for sealing said distal end of said outer tubular member from leakage of inflation fluid around said expandable balloon element during inflation proximate said proximal waist of said expandable balloon element.