# US 9,517,151 B2 · Control of balloon inflation rate during deployment of scaffold > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,151 B2 - Document ID: US9517151B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/436,527 - Filed: 2012-03-30 - Published: 2013-10-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-30 - Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. - Applicants: Matthew Gillick; Yunbing Wang; Justin Mann; Bruce Wilson; James Oberhauser - Inventors: Matthew Gillick; Yunbing Wang; Justin Mann; Bruce Wilson; James Oberhauser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517151B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/10181: {Means for forcing inflation fluid into the balloon} - A61M 25/10185: {Valves} - A61F 2250/0013: for adjusting fluid pressure - 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 An apparatus and method for controlling inflation pressure and pressurization rate of a balloon during deployment of a stent or scaffold are disclosed. The apparatus and method involve a pressure attenuator for controlling an inflation rate of the delivery balloon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for deployment of a stent, the method comprising: injecting an inflation fluid from a fluid source into a hub of a catheter in fluid communication with a delivery balloon via an inflation lumen, the injecting causes the delivery balloon to be inflated by inflation fluid traveling through the inflation lumen, wherein a pressure of the inflation fluid in the inflation lumen and delivery balloon increases as the inflation fluid is injected; controlling a rate of fluid pressure increase with a pressure attenuator comprising a chamber filled with the inflation fluid from the inflation lumen, wherein controlling the rate of fluid pressure increase includes allowing a movable containing wall of the chamber to move from a starting position to a final position in response to accumulation of inflation fluid in the chamber and an increase in the pressure of the inflation fluid, and wherein the fluid communication between the hub of the catheter and the delivery balloon via the inflation lumen is present when the movable containing wall is at the starting position and the final position; and causing fluid pressure of the inflation fluid in the delivery balloon to increase after the movable containing wall is at the final position and with continued injection of inflation fluid into the hub. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inflation fluid is allowed to fill the chamber when the fluid pressure reaches a selected value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of fluid pressure increase is controlled only when the fluid pressure reaches a selected value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein as the fluid pressure is increased by the injection of the inflation fluid, the control of the rate of fluid pressure increase starts when the fluid pressure reaches a specified value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising depressurizing the inflation lumen after a maximum deployment pressure is reached, the maximum deployment pressure being a pressure that deploys a stent scaffold completely, wherein the pressure attenuator does not control the fluid pressure during depressurization. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when controlling the rate of fluid pressure increase, a biasing force modulates the variation in the chamber volume. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the biasing force is provided by a spring applying the biasing force to the movable containing wall of the chamber, and the biasing force opposes an increase in the chamber volume. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when the movable containing wall is in the final position, inflation fluid is retained in the chamber.