# US 7,744,619 B2 · Rotatable catheter assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,619 B2 - Document ID: US7744619B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/785,449 - Filed: 2004-02-24 - Published: 2005-08-25 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-02-24 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Tracee Eidenschink - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744619B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/856: Single tubular stent with a side portal passage - A61F 2/954: for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61F 2210/008: Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat - A61F 2250/0003: having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas - A61M 2025/0058: {having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing} - A61M 2025/1015: {having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system} - A61M 2025/1056: {having guide wire lumens outside the main shaft, i.e. the guide wire lumen is within or on the surface of the balloon} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - 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 A catheter assembly comprises a catheter shaft, a balloon and a pair of collars. The collars may be fixed or rotatable about a catheter shaft prior to exposure to an electric current. Where the collars are fixed to the shaft, the balloon is rotatable about the collars. When exposed to the electric current the collars expand to engage the waists of the balloon thereby sealing the balloon. Where the collars are rotatable about the shaft, the each waist of the balloon is engaged to a respective collars. When the rotatable collars are exposed to the electric current the collars expand to engage the shaft of the catheter thereby sealing the balloon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having a length and an outer surface; a balloon, the balloon comprising a proximal balloon waist, a distal balloon waist and a body portion therebetween, the balloon having an expanded state and a unexpanded state, in the expanded state the body portion having an expanded diameter and in the unexpanded state the body portion having an unexpanded diameter that is less than the expanded diameter; and a proximal collar and a distal collar, the proximal collar fixed to the catheter shaft and the distal collar fixed to the catheter shaft, each collar having a nonactivated state and an activated state, in the nonactivated state the distal balloon waist being rotatable about the distal collar and the proximal balloon waist being rotatable about the proximal collar, in the activated state the proximal collar being expanded to sealingly engage the proximal balloon waist and the distal collar being expanded to sealingly engage the distal balloon waist. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the collars are actuated between the nonactivated state and the activated state by exposure to an electric current. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter assembly of claim 2 further comprising at least one electrically conductive member, each collar being in electronic communication with the at least one electrically conductive member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly of claim 3 further comprising a source of electrical current, the source being in electronic communication with the at least one electrically conductive member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The catheter assembly of claim 4 wherein the catheter shaft comprises an inner catheter shaft and an outer catheter shaft, the proximal collar being engaged to a portion of the outer catheter shaft and the distal collar being engaged to a portion of the inner catheter shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter assembly of claim 5 wherein the inner catheter shaft is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of: HDPE, Pebax, Polyamide, Nylon, multilayer extrusions and any combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is at least partially enclosed by the inner catheter shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The catheter assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is co-extruded with the at least one material of the inner catheter shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The catheter assembly of claim 7 wherein the support ring is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of: stainless steel, Nitinol, acetyl, PI, HDPE, LX2/TR55, nanocomposites, ceramics, and any combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The catheter assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer catheter shaft is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of: Pebax, Nylon, nanocompostites, multilayer extrusions, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is at least partially enclosed by the outer catheter shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter assembly of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is co-extruded with the at least one material of the outer catheter shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The catheter assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer catheter shaft is disposed about a portion of the inner catheter shaft, an inflation lumen in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon body being defined by a space between the inner catheter shaft and the outer catheter shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the portion of the outer catheter shaft is disposed about a support ring, the inner catheter shaft extending through the support ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The catheter assembly of claim 4 further comprising an inflation fluid, the inflation fluid being injected into the balloon in order to expand the balloon from the unexpanded state to the expanded state, the inflation fluid being electrically conductive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The catheter assembly of claim 15 wherein the proximal collar, the distal collar, the at least one electrically conductive member, the inflation fluid and the source of electric current forming an electric circuit through which the electric current flows to place the collars in the activated state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of: gold, silver, platinum, nitinol, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one conductive member is positioned within at least a portion of the balloon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The catheter assembly of claim 18 wherein the at least one electrically conductive member is co-extruded within the at least a portion of the balloon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein the proximal collar and the distal collar are comprised of electro-active polymer (EAP) material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The catheter assembly of claim 20 wherein the EAP material is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: Poly-pyrrole (PPY), Poly-Aniline (PAni), Poly-Thiofene (PTH), Poly-Paraphenylene Vinylene (PPV), Nation, Bucky paper, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The catheter assembly of claim 20 wherein when the proximal collar and the distal collar are exposed to the electric current the EAP material in each collar expands about 0.5% to about 20 percent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The catheter assembly of claim 20 wherein the proximal collar and the distal collar are further comprised of at least one electrically conductive marker, the EAP material being a layer of material engaged to at least a portion of a surface of the at least one electrically conductive marker. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The catheter assembly of claim 23 wherein the at least one electrically conductive marker is constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of gold, platinum, silver, nitinol, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The catheter assembly of claim 24 wherein the at least one electrically conductive marker is in direct contact with a portion of the at least one electrically conductive member which radially extends through at least one opening in the catheter shaft. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one marker band the at least one marker band being engaged to a portion of the catheter shaft. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The catheter assembly of claim 26 wherein the at least one marker band is at least partially radiopaque. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The catheter assembly of claim 26 wherein the at least one marker band is detectable by at least one imaging modality selected from the group consisting of X-Ray, MRI ultrasound and a combination thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the balloon is constructed of at least one member of the group consisting of: Pebax, Nylon, PET, polyester, polyolefin copolymer) and any combination thereof. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a distal hub, the distal hub fixedly engaged to the catheter shaft distal of the distal collar. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a proximal hub, the proximal hub fixedly engaged to the catheter shaft proximal of the proximal collar. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a secondary guidewire housing, the secondary guidewire housing comprising a substantially tubular member engaged to the balloon, the secondary guidewire housing defining a secondary guidewire lumen through which a secondary guidewire may be slidingly positioned. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 wherein the secondary guidewire housing is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of: metal, polymer, natural rubber, silicone, urethanes, Pebax, HDPE, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 wherein the secondary guidewire housing is integral with the balloon. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 wherein the secondary guidewire housing is engaged to an external surface of the balloon. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The catheter assembly of claim 35 wherein the secondary guidewire housing is welded to the external surface of the balloon. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 wherein the secondary guidewire housing extends from a proximal end of the balloon body to an intermediate region of the balloon body. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 wherein the secondary guidewire has a length at least as long as the balloon body. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The catheter assembly of claim 32 further comprising a balloon expandable stent, the stent being expandable from an unexpanded configuration to and expanded configuration, in the unexpanded configuration the stent being disposed about at least a portion of the balloon body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The catheter assembly of claim 39 wherein at least a proximal portion of the stent overlays at least a portion of the secondary guidewire housing. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The catheter assembly of claim 40 wherein the stent comprises a plurality of interconnected members, wherein adjacent members define openings there between, one of the openings being a secondary opening through which the secondary guidewire radially extends. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The catheter assembly of claim 41 wherein a distal end of the secondary guidewire housing extends radially through the secondary opening. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The catheter assembly of claim 39 wherein at least a portion of the stent is coated with at least one therapeutic agent. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The catheter assembly of claim 43 wherein the at least one therapeutic agent is at least one non-genetic therapeutic agent selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: anti-thrombogenic agents; anti-pro liferative agents; anti-inflammatory agents; antineoplastic/antiproliferative/anti-miotic agents; anesthetic agents including lidocaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine; anti-coagulants; vascular cell growth promoters; vascular cell growth inhibitors; bifunctional molecules consisting of an antibody and a cytotoxin; cholesterol-lowering agents; vasodilating agents; and agents which interfere with endogenous vascoactive mechanisms, and any combinations thereof. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The catheter assembly of claim 44, wherein the non-genetic therapeutic agent is an anti-thrombogenic agent selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: heparin, heparin derivatives, urokinase, and PPack (dextrophenylalanine proline arginine chloromethylketone). ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The catheter assembly of claim 44, wherein the non-genetic therapeutic agent is anti-proliferative agent selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: enoxaprin, angiopeptin, monoclonal antibodies capable of blocking smooth muscle cell proliferation, hirudin, and acetylsalicylic acid. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The catheter assembly of claim 44, wherein the non-genetic therapeutic agent is an anti-inflammatory agents selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: dexamethasone, prednisolone, corticosterone, budesonide, estrogen, sulfasalazine, and mesalamine. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The catheter assembly of claim 44, wherein the non-genetic therapeutic agent is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, vinblastine, vincristine, epothilones, endostatin, angiostatin, and thymidine kinase inhibitors. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The catheter assembly of claim 44, wherein the non-genetic therapeutic agent is an anti-coagulants selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl keton, an RGD peptide-containing compound, heparin, antithrombin compounds, platelet receptor antagonists, anti-thrombin antibodies, anti-platelet receptor antibodies, aspirin, prostaglandin inhibitors, platelet inhibitors, and tick antiplatelet peptides. ### Claim 50 (depends on 43) The catheter assembly of claim 43 wherein the at least one therapeutic agent is at least one genetic therapeutic agent selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: anti-sense DNA and RNA; DNA coding for anti-sense RNA, tRNA or rRNA to replace defective or deficient endogenous molecules; angiogenic factors including growth factors; cell cycle inhibitors including CD inhibitors, thymidine kinase (“TK”) and other agents useful for interfering with cell proliferation; at least one of the family of bone morphogenic proteins (“BMP's”); dimeric proteins; molecules capable of inducing an upstream or downstream effect of a BMP, or the DNA's encoding them and any combinations thereof. ### Claim 51 (depends on 43) The catheter assembly of claim 43 wherein the at least one therapeutic agent is at least one type of cellular material selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: cells of human origin (autologous or allogeneic); cells of non-human origin (xenogeneic) and any combination thereof. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The catheter assembly of claim 51 wherein the cellular material is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: side population cells; lineage negative cells; lineage negative CD34” cells; lineage negative CD34+ cells; lineage negative “cKit+cells; mesenchymal stem cells; cord blood bells; cardiac or other tissue derived stem cells; whole bone marrow; bone marrow mononuclear cells; endothelial progenitor cells; satellite cells; muscle derived cells; go cells; endothelial cells; adult cardiomyocytes; fibroblasts; smooth muscle cells; cultures of mesenchymal stem cells with 5-aza forces differentiation into cardiomyocytes; adult cardiac fibroblasts+5-aza; genetically modified cells; tissue engineered grafts; MyoD scar fibroblasts; Pacing cells; embryonic stem cell clones; embryonic stem cells; fetal or neonatal cells; immunologically masked cells; tissue engineered grafts; genetically modified cells; teratoma derived cells and any combinations thereof. ### Claim 53 (depends on 43) The catheter assembly of claim 43 wherein the at least one therapeutic agent comprises at least one polymer coating, the at least one coating selected from at least one member of the group consisting of: polycarboxylic acids; cellulosic polymers, including cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate; gelatin; polyvinylpyrrolidone; cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyanhydrides including maleic anhydride polymers; polyamides; polyvinyl alcohols; copolymers of vinyl monomers; polyvinyl ethers; polyvinyl aromatics; polyethylene oxides; glycosaminoglycans; polysaccharides; polyethylene terephthalate; polyacrylamides; polyethers; polyether sulfone; polycarbonate; polypropylene; polyethylene; and high molecular weight polyethylene; polytetrafluoroethylene; polyurethanes; polyorthoesters; proteins; polypeptides; silicones; siloxane polymers; polylactic acid; polyglycolic acid; polycaprolactone; polyhydroxybutyrate valerate and blends and copolymers thereof; coatings from polymer dispersions; polysaccharides; hyaluronic acid; squalene emulsions; polyacrylic acid, a copolymer of polylactic acid and polycaprolactone; PGA-TMC, Tyrosine-Derived Polycarbonates and arylates; polycaprolactone co butyl acrylate and other co polymers; Poly-L-lactic acid blends with DL-Lactic Acid; Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid); polycaprolactone co PLA; polycaprolactone co butyl acrylate and other copolymers; Tyrosine-Derived Polycarbonates and arylate; poly amino acid; polyphosphazenes; polyiminocarbonates; polydimethyltrimethylcarbonates; biodegradable CA/P04's; cyanoacrylate; 50/50 DLPLG; polydioxanone; polypropylene fumarate; polydepsipeptides; chitosan and Hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose; surface erodible material; maleic anhydride copolymers; zinc-calcium phosphate; amorphous polyanhydrides; sugar; carbohydrate; gelatin; biodegradable polymers; and polymers dissolvable in bodily fluids; A block copolymers; B block copolymers and any combinations thereof. ### Claim 54 A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having a length and an outer surface; a balloon disposed about at least a portion of the outer surface of the catheter shaft, the balloon comprising a proximal balloon waist, a distal balloon waist and a body portion there between, the balloon having an expanded state and a unexpanded state, in the expanded state the body portion having an expanded diameter and in the unexpanded state the body portion having an unexpanded diameter that is less than the expanded diameter; and one or more collars disposed between the outer surface of the catheter shaft and at least one of the proximal waist and distal waist of the balloon, the one or more collars including an electroactive polymer material having a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the balloon is rotatable relative to the catheter shaft when the electroactive polymer material of the one or more collars in the contracted state and the balloon is sealingly engaged to the catheter shaft when the electroactive polymer material of the one or more collars is in the expanded state. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The catheter assembly of claim 54, wherein the electroactive polymer material of the one or more collars is electrically actuatable between the contracted state and the expanded state. ### Claim 56 (depends on 54) The catheter assembly of claim 54, wherein the one or more collars are fixed to at least one of the proximal waist and the distal waist of the balloon. ### Claim 57 (depends on 54) The catheter assembly of claim 54, wherein the one or more collars are fixed to the catheter shaft.