# US 8,540,668 B2 · Catheter including a compliant balloon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,668 B2 - Document ID: US8540668B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/233,692 - Filed: 2011-09-15 - Published: 2012-01-12 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-09 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Stephen Griffin; Huey Quoc Chan; Elaine Lim; Nhan Hue To - Inventors: Stephen Griffin; Huey Quoc Chan; Elaine Lim; Nhan Hue To - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540668B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)} - A61B 17/22032: {having inflatable gripping elements (balloon catheters A61M25/10)} - A61M 25/0054: {with regions for increasing flexibility} - 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 25/0105: {Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning (systems for detection of markers A61B)} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter having an elongate shaft including a plurality of apertures disposed along at least a length of the shaft to facilitate bending. The catheter includes an inflatable balloon, wherein a subset of the plurality of apertures provides fluid communication from an inflation lumen to the inflatable balloon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A balloon catheter, comprising: an elongate catheter shaft, the catheter shaft including a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending at least partially the length therebetween; wherein one or more cuts are formed in the tubular member; wherein the one or more cuts define a first portion of the tubular member and a second portion of the tubular member; a coating disposed along the first portion of the tubular member; wherein the coating fluidly seals the one or more cuts along the first portion of the tubular member; an inner tubular member disposed within the lumen of the tubular member, wherein the inner tubular member is spaced apart from the tubular member, and the space between the tubular member and the inner tubular member defines an inflation lumen; a balloon coupled to the second portion of the tubular member; and wherein the balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the tubular member stainless steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the one or more cuts includes a helical cut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a tube wall and wherein at least some of the one or more cuts extend only partially through the tube wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a tube wall and wherein the one or more cuts extend completely through the tube wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the one or more cuts extend along the full length of the tubular member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the one or more cuts extend along only a portion of the length of the tubular member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the inner tubular member extends through the balloon to the distal end of the elongate catheter shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the tubular member is free of the coating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the tubular member is free of an outer coating such that the one or more cuts along the first second portion of the tubular member are unobstructed so that fluid can pass between the inflation lumen and the balloon. ### Claim 12 A balloon catheter, comprising: an elongate catheter shaft, the catheter shaft including a metallic tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a lumen; wherein one or more cuts are formed in the tubular member; wherein at least some of the one or more cuts include a helical cut; wherein the helical cut defines a first portion of the tubular member and a second portion of the tubular member; a coating disposed along at least part of the first portion of the tubular member; wherein the coating fluidly seals the helical cut along at least part of the first portion of the tubular member, wherein a proximal portion of the tubular member has one or more of the cuts unobstructed by the coating; wherein the second portion of the tubular member is free of the coating; a balloon coupled to the second portion of the tubular member; a hub assembly including an inflation port disposed around the proximal portion of the tubular member such that the inflation port is in fluid communication with the one or more unobstructed cuts; and wherein the balloon is in fluid communication with the lumen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the tubular member stainless steel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the tubular member has a tube wall and wherein at least some of the one or more cuts extend only partially through the tube wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the tubular member has a tube wall and wherein the one or more cuts extend completely through the tube wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the one or more cuts extend along the full length of the tubular member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the one or more cuts extend along only a portion of the length of the tubular member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The balloon catheter of claim 12, wherein the catheter shaft includes an inner tubular member disposed within the lumen of the tubular member. ### Claim 20 A catheter shaft, comprising: a metal tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a lumen; wherein one or more cuts are formed in the metal tube; wherein at least some of the one or more cuts include a helical cut; wherein the one or more cuts define a first portion of the metal tube and a second portion of the metal tube; a coating disposed along the first portion of the metal tube; wherein the coating fluidly seals the one or more cuts along the first portion of the metal tube; an inner tubular member disposed within the lumen of the metal tube, wherein the inner tubular member is spaced apart from the metal tube, and the space between the metal tube and the inner tubular member defines an inflation lumen; and wherein the second portion of the tubular member is free of the coating such that fluid can move between the inflation lumen and an exterior surface of the metal tube.