# US 6,702,782 B2 · Large lumen balloon catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,702,782 B2 - Document ID: US6702782B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/892,349 - Filed: 2001-06-26 - Published: 2002-12-26 - Granted: 2004-03-09 - Earliest claimed: 2001-06-26 - Assignees: Concentric Medical, Inc. - Inventors: John Miller; Martin Dieck; Maria Aboytes; Ryan Pierce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6702782B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids} - A61M 25/003: {characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves (catheter tips A61M25/0067)} - A61M 25/0053: {having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid} - A61M 25/0054: {with regions for increasing flexibility} - A61M 2025/0034: {characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores} - A61M 2025/0036: {with more than four lumina} - A61M 2025/0039: {characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially} - A61M 2025/004: {characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially} - A61M 2025/1052: {for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector} - A61M 2210/0693: Brain, cerebrum - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract This is a balloon catheter having at least two lumens. One of the lumens is a large working lumen. The balloon catheter is especially useful as a guide catheter and may be used in a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. In particular, it has value in treating neurovascular embolic strokes in combination with other devices which are delivered to the stroke site through that working lumen. The remainder of the lumens typically are used to inflate and to deflate the balloon. It is highly preferable that the balloon or inflatable member be situated in a recess in the outer wall of the inventive catheter. Additionally, the distal end of the catheter past the balloon is preferably tapered. The catheter has a very low profile as compared to other catheters of the neurovascular balloon catheter genre. It may include other features such as variable stiffness along the axis of the device and anti-kinking components. The balloon is preferably compliant in nature. When intended for use in treating embolic stroke, the catheter may be a component of a kit including a foreign body retriever. Further, amongst other procedures, the invention includes methods of temporarily blocking a vascular lumen, of removing neurovascular or peripheral emboli. Other procedures, where diagnosis or treatment is needed in a vascular space and a large working lumen is desired, are suitable procedures for the balloon catheter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A balloon catheter comprising: a first elongate tubular member having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, having a substantial constant diameter, a working lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends and being open at said distal end, and a radially recessed region near the distal end, and a longitudinally stretched inflatable member situated within said radially recessed region providing said substantially constant diameter and being fluid-connectable with at least one fluid supply lumen independent of said working lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, further comprising a second elongate tubular member substantially concentric with the first elongate tubular member and having a lumen forming the working lumen and an outer surface forming an annular space between the first elongate tubular member, said annular space being the fluid supply lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2, wherein said second elongate tubular member comprises a wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, and further comprising a stiffener member situated to provide kink resistance to the balloon catheter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the stiffener member comprises a coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The balloon catheter of claim 3, where the stiffener member comprises a braid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2, where the second elongate tubular member has varying stiffness between said distal and said proximal end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The balloon catheter of claim 6 comprising segments of polymers of different stiffness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 where the inflatable member is compliant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 where the inflatable member is stretched longitudinally at least 10% upon attachment to the first elongate tubular member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The balloon catheter of claim 9 wherein the inflatable member is stretched longitudinally about 15% upon attachment to the first elongate tubular member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 where the first elongate tubular member comprises a wall containing one or more fluid supply lumens for said inflatable member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The balloon catheter of claim 11 wherein said wall comprises tubing forming fluid supply lumens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12 wherein the wall comprises tubing spirally embedded in said wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The balloon catheter of claim 13 wherein the wall comprises square tubing spirally embedded in said wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The balloon catheter of claim 13 wherein the wall comprises round tubing spirally embedded in said wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The balloon catheter of claim 13 where said tubing comprises polymeric tubing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The balloon catheter of claim 13 where the tubing comprises metallic tubing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The balloon catheter of claim 17 where said metallic tubing comprises a superelastic alloy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12 wherein said fluid supply lumen is comprised of a braid of square or round tubing embedded in said wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The balloon catheter of claim 19 where the braid comprises square tubing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The balloon catheter of claim 19 where the braid comprises round tubing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The balloon catheter of claim 19 wherein said braid comprises polymeric tubing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The balloon catheter of claim 19 where the braid comprises metallic tubing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The balloon catheter of claim 23 where the metallic tubing comprises a superelastic alloy. ### Claim 25 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2 where the second elongate member further comprises a radio-opaque marker band distal of said inflatable member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein said first elongate tubular member is tapered distal of said inflatable member and joined to said second elongate tubular member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 2) The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein said second elongate tubular member further comprises a lubricious polymeric tubular inner-most tubing member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said at least one fluid supply lumens is integral within said first member wall. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The balloon catheter of claim 28 wherein said at least one fluid supply lumens comprise passageways integral in and grooved in said first elongate tubular member and further comprising a lubricious inner member tubing closing said grooved passageways radially. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said catheter is of a flexibility, length, and diameter appropriate for a neurovascular microcatheter. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said catheter is of a flexibility, length, and diameter appropriate for a guide catheter. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said first elongate tubular member comprises a polymeric tubing. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said first elongate tubular member comprises a composite wall containing a helically wound coil. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The balloon catheter of claim 33 wherein said helically wound coil is wound from wire. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The balloon catheter of claim 33 wherein said helically wound coil is wound from ribbon. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein said first elongate tubular member comprises a composite wall containing a braid. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) A kit comprising: a.) the balloon catheter of claim 1, b.) a dilator having a dilator lumen extending from a proximal end of the dilator to a distal end of the dilator, said dilator having a diameter closely fitting said balloon catheter lumen, c.) a microcatheter having a microcatheter lumen, d.) a guidewire slideable within a member selected from the group consisting of the dilator lumen and the microcatheter lumen, and e.) a clot retrieval device adapted to fit within the lumen of the balloon catheter with a retrieved clot. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The kit of claim 37 wherein the microcatheter is a balloon catheter. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The kit of claim 37 wherein the guidewire is adapted to slide within the dilator lumen. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The kit of claim 37 wherein the guidewire is adapted to slide within the microcatheter lumen. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) A microballoon catheter kit comprising: a.) the balloon catheter of claim 1 of a flexibility, length, and diameter appropriate for a neurovascular microcatheter and having a microcatheter lumen, b.) a guidewire slideable within the microcatheter lumen, and c.) a clot retrieval device adapted to fit within the lumen of the balloon catheter and extend to a radially expanded state. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) A method for removing an embolus from a vascular lumen, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the balloon catheter of claim 1 to a position proximal said embolus, (b) extending a microcatheter from the distal end of said balloon catheter to penetrate the embolus, (c) extending a clot removal device through the embolus past the microcatheter, (d) inflating the balloon of said balloon catheter to temporarily occlude the vascular lumen, (e) withdrawing the microcatheter into the balloon catheter, (f) withdrawing the clot removal device and the embolus into the balloon catheter, (g) deflating the balloon of said balloon catheter, and (h) withdrawing the balloon catheter and embolus. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 wherein the steps of withdrawing the microcatheter and withdrawing the clot removal device and the embolus into the balloon catheter are simultaneous. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 wherein the microcatheter is a balloon microcatheter. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 wherein the vascular lumen is the middle cerebral artery. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 wherein the vascular lumen is in a human periphery or coronary. ### Claim 47 (depends on 1) A method for treating a site in a vascular lumen, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the balloon catheter of claim 1 to a position in said lumen, (b) inflating the balloon of said balloon catheter to temporarily occlude the vascular lumen, (c) treating said site in the lumen, (d) deflating the balloon of said balloon catheter, and (e) withdrawing the balloon catheter. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47 wherein the microcatheter is a balloon microcatheter. ### Claim 49 (depends on 1) A method for performing a diagnostic step in a vascular lumen, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the balloon catheter of claim 1 to a position in said lumen, (b) inflating the balloon of said balloon catheter to temporarily occlude the vascular lumen, (c) performing a diagnostic step at said site in the lumen, (d) deflating the balloon of said balloon catheter, and (e) withdrawing the balloon catheter. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48 wherein the microcatheter is a balloon microcatheter. ### Claim 51 A microballoon catheter comprising: a first elongate polymeric tubular member having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a working lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends and being open at said distal end, and a radially recessed region near the distal end, and a longitudinally-stretched inflatable member situated within said radially recessed region providing a substantially constant diameter in a region adjacent and across the radially recessed region and being fluid-connectable with at least one fluid supply lumen independent of said working lumen wherein said catheter is of a flexibility, length, and diameter appropriate for a neurovascular microcatheter. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The microballoon catheter of claim 51, further comprising a second elongate polymeric tubular member substantially concentric with the first elongate tubular member and having a lumen forming the working lumen and an outer surface forming an annular space between the first elongate tubular member, said annular space being the fluid supply lumen. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The microballoon catheter of claim 52, wherein said second elongate tubular member comprises a wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, and further comprising a stainless steel braided stiffener member situated to provide kink resistance to the microballoon catheter. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The microballoon catheter of claim 53, wherein said first elongate tubular member is tapered distal of said inflatable member and joined to said second elongate tubular member. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The microballoon catheter of claim 54, wherein the first elongate tubular member comprises a polyether-polyamide block copolymer. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The microballoon catheter of claim 55, wherein said second elongate tubular member comprises a lubricious polymeric tubular inner-most tubing member. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The microballoon catheter of claim 56, wherein said lubricious polymeric tubular inner-most tubing member comprises polytetrafluoroethylene having a wall thickness of 0.25 to 1.5 mils. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The microballoon catheter of claim 57, wherein said second elongate tubular member further comprises a polyether-polyamide block copolymer outer-most tubing member. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The microballoon catheter of claim 58, wherein the second elongate member further comprises a radio-opaque marker band distal of said inflatable member. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The microballoon catheter of claim 59, wherein said substantially constant diameter is between one French (0.33 mm) and several millimeters. ### Claim 61 A balloon catheter having a substantially constant diameter comprising: a first elongate tubular member having an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a working lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends and being open at said distal end, and a radially recessed region near the distal end, and an inflatable member situated within said radially recessed region providing said substantially constant diameter and being fluid-connectable with at least one fluid supply lumen independent of said working lumen. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The balloon catheter of claim 61, further comprising a second elongate tubular member substantially concentric with the first elongate tubular member and having a lumen forming the working lumen and an outer surface forming an annular space between the first elongate tubular member, said annular space being the fluid supply lumen. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The balloon catheter of claim 62, wherein said second elongate tubular member comprises a wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, and further comprising a stiffener member situated to provide kink resistance to the balloon catheter. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The balloon catheter of claim 63, wherein the stiffener member comprises a braid. ### Claim 65 (depends on 61) The balloon catheter of claim 61, wherein the inflatable member is compliant. ### Claim 66 (depends on 61) The balloon catheter of claim 61, wherein said catheter is of a flexibility, length, and diameter appropriate for a neurovascular microcatheter. ### Claim 67 (depends on 62) The balloon catheter of claim 62, wherein the second elongate member further comprises a radio-opaque marker band distal of said inflatable member. ### Claim 68 (depends on 62) The balloon catheter of claim 62, wherein said first elongate tubular member is tapered distal of said inflatable member and joined to said second elongate tubular member. ### Claim 69 (depends on 62) The balloon catheter of claim 62, wherein said second elongate tubular member further comprises a lubricious polymeric tubular inner-most tubing member. ### Claim 70 (depends on 61) The balloon catheter of claim 61, wherein said first elongate tubular member comprises a polymeric tubing. ### Claim 71 (depends on 61) The balloon catheter of claim 61, wherein the inflatable member is longitudinally stretched upon attachment to the first elongate tubular member. ### Claim 72 (depends on 71) The balloon catheter of claim 71, wherein the inflatable member is stretched longitudinally at least 10% upon attachment to the first elongate tubular member. ### Claim 73 (depends on 72) The balloon catheter of claim 72, wherein the inflatable member is stretched longitudinally about 15% upon attachment to the first elongate tubular member.