Drug delivery catheter having a highly compliant balloon with infusion holes
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsThomas Yung-Hui Chien, Henry Nita, Alain Cornil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intravascular drug delivery balloon catheter incorporating a highly compliant balloon having a plurality of infusion holes. The highly compliant balloon elastically expands at a low inflation pressure (e.g., less than 1.0 ATM), and preferably has a compliance of 2.0 mm/ATM or more at pressures less than 2.0 ATM. A pressure relief valve may be incorporated into the catheter to avoid over pressurization. The infusion holes may be open when the balloon is deflated and may enlarge when the balloon is inflated. The balloon may define a single lobe or two inflatable lobes with the infusion holes disposed therebetween.
Claims17
An intravascular drug delivery balloon catheter, comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- an inflatable balloon carried by the distal end of the shaft, the balloon comprising a compliant material such that the balloon elastically expands at an inflation pressure of less than 1.0 ATM, the balloon including a plurality of infusion holes.
An intravascular drug delivery system, comprising:
- a balloon catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therethrough, an inflatable balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon including a wall defining an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon wall comprising a compliant material such that the balloon wall elastically expands at an inflation pressure of less than 1.0 ATM, the balloon wall including a plurality of infusion holes, the distal end of the shaft including a guidewire seal;
- and
- a guidewire disposed in the inflation lumen, the guidewire seal forming a fluid seal about the guidewire such that fluid passes from the inflation lumen, into the balloon, and through the infusion holes, and such that the guidewire is free to move relative to the guidewire seal.
A method of delivering a drug intravascularly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a drug delivery balloon catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an inflatable balloon carried by the distal end of the shaft, the balloon comprising a compliant material such that the balloon elastically expands at an inflation pressure of less than 1.0 ATM, the balloon including a plurality of infusion holes which are open when the balloon is deflated and which enlarge when the balloon is inflated;
- inserting the catheter into a patient's vasculature;
- positioning the balloon adjacent a treatment site;
- and
- inflating the balloon such that the balloon elastically expands and the drug passes through the infusion holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.