Dilation catheter and method of treatment therewith

A catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, said catheter comprising:

• a shaft comprising at least first and second lumens for delivery of fluid inflation media;
• a primary balloon having a generally cylindrical wall concentric with said shaft and defining a primary chamber, said primary chamber being in fluid communication with said first lumen for inflation of said primary balloon;
• a secondary balloon comprising an array formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable secondary chambers disposed cylindrically about said primary balloon, wherein each of said secondary chambers is defined by at least an inner wall and an outer wall, said primary balloon wall providing said inner wall for each of said secondary chambers;
• and
• means to inflate each of said secondary chambers, said means including a plurality of channels, each channel being in fluid communication with one of said secondary chambers and with said second lumen;
• wherein said second lumen is in fluid communication with a pressure sensing means for monitoring the inflation pressure in at least one of said secondary chambers.

A catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, said catheter comprising:

• a shaft comprising at least first and second lumens for delivery of fluid inflation media;
• a primary balloon having a generally cylindrical wall concentric with said shaft and defining a primary chamber, said primary chamber being in fluid communication with said first lumen for inflation of said primary balloon;
• a secondary balloon comprising an array formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable secondary chambers disposed cylindrically about said primary balloon, wherein each of said secondary chambers has a proximal end and is defined by at least an inner wall and an outer wall, said primary balloon wall providing said inner wall for each of said secondary chambers;
• means to inflate at least one of said secondary chambers, said means including at least one first channel in fluid communication with said at least one secondary chamber and with said second lumen, wherein said at least one first channel extends into said proximal end of at least one of said secondary chambers;
• a plurality of additional channels each in fluid communication with one of the remainder of said secondary chambers, wherein each of said additional channels extends into said proximal end of one of said remainder of said secondary chambers, and circumferential webs separate said first and said additional channels from each other.

A method for administering treatment to widen a constricted portion of a bodily conduit to establish a desired blood flow rate through said constricted portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a catheter having an inflatable balloon into said bodily conduit to position said balloon within said constricted portion, said catheter comprising a shaft comprising at least first and second lumens for delivery of fluid inflation media;
• a primary balloon having a generally cylindrical wall concentric with said shaft and defining a primary chamber, said primary chamber being in fluid communication with said first lumen for inflation of said primary balloon to a first preselected diameter;
• a secondary balloon comprising an array formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable secondary chambers disposed cylindrically about said primary balloon, wherein each of said secondary chambers is defined by at least an inner wall and an outer wall, said primary balloon wall providing said inner wall for each of said secondary chambers;
• means to inflate each of said secondary chambers to achieve a second preselected diameter greater than said first preselected diameter, said means including a plurality of channels, each channel being in fluid communication with one of said secondary chambers and with said second lumen;
• inflating said primary balloon to said first preselected diameter to engage said constricted portion and to widen said constricted portion to a first treated diameter;
• examining said constricted portion to determine whether said first treated diameter is sufficient to establish said desired blood flow rate;
• if said first treated diameter is determined not to be sufficient to establish said desired blood flow rate, inflating said secondary chambers to achieve said second preselected diameter.

A method for administering treatment to widen a constricted portion of a bodily conduit to establish a desired blood flow rate through said constricted portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a catheter having an inflatable balloon into said bodily conduit to position said balloon within said constricted portion, said catheter comprising a shaft comprising at least first and second lumens for delivery of fluid inflation media;
• a primary balloon having a generally cylindrical wall concentric with said shaft and defining a primary chamber, said primary chamber being in fluid communication with said first lumen for inflation of said primary balloon to a first preselected diameter;
• a secondary balloon comprising an array formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable secondary chambers disposed cylindrically about said primary balloon, wherein each of said secondary chambers is defined by at least an inner wall and an outer wall, said primary balloon wall providing said inner wall for each of said secondary chambers;
• means to inflate at least one of said secondary chambers to achieve a second preselected diameter greater than said first preselected diameter, said means including at least one channel in fluid communication with said at least one secondary chamber and with said second lumen;
• inflating said primary balloon to said first preselected diameter to engage said constricted portion and to widen said constricted portion to a first treated diameter;
• examining said constricted portion to determine whether said first treated diameter is sufficient to establish said desired blood flow rate;
• if said first treated diameter is determined not to be sufficient to establish said desired blood flow rate, inflating said at least one secondary chamber to achieve said second preselected diameter.