Balloon catheter with stent and method for manufacturing it
AssigneeC.R. Bard, Inc.
InventorsHendrik Jozef Maria Meens, Derk Trip
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Abstract
The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising a catheter tube, an inflatable balloon, the ends of which are attached to the catheter tube, and a stent attached around the balloon. The stent extends at least partly along the length of the balloon. In an uninflated state, at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent is provided with a relief structure which is substantially disappeared in an inflated state of the balloon. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a balloon catheter.
Claims13
Method for producing a balloon catheter comprising attaching opposite ends of an inflatable balloon to a catheter tube, attaching a stent around the balloon in an uninflated state, and providing at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent with a relief structure which is substantially disappeared when the balloon is in an inflated state, whereby the relief structure is applied to the outside surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.
Method for producing a balloon catheter for use in combination with a stent, the method comprising:
- folding a balloon in an uninflated state in a manner which reduces a profile of the balloon;
- and
- forming at least one helical groove in an outside surface of the balloon including by winding a wire about at least a portion of the outside surface of the folded balloon in a direction having a component transverse to a longitudinal axis of the balloon and removing the wire prior to use of the balloon in a subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.