Dual modulus balloon for interventional procedures
AssigneeMercator MedSystems, Inc.
InventorsKirk Patrick Seward, Isidro M. Gandionco, David Gandionco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for interventional surgical or medical procedures is presented. The device is generally in the form of a balloon and is used to position itself or other working elements up against or through lumen walls in the body. The balloon is comprised of at least two materials of different elastic modulus, which allows for a flexible but relatively non-distensible, unfolding component of the balloon as well as an elastomeric, inflatable component of the balloon. The elastomeric component is fixedly attached to the flexible but relatively non-distensible component and together they form a pressure vessel that can be inflated within the lumens of the body.
Claims34
A method of maintaining bronchial patency in a bronchus of a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a catheter in the bronchus;
- expanding an expandable element disposed on a distal end of the catheter positioned in the bronchus to extend a needle laterally from the expandable element and place a section of the expandable element fully surrounding the needle in sealing contact against a bronchial wall;
- and
- delivering an amount of a therapeutic agent to tissue surrounding the bronchus through the extended needle,
- wherein the amount is effective to limit recurrent bronchial occlusion by a therapeutically beneficial amount,
- wherein delivery comprises injecting the amount of the therapeutic agent into one or more of the bronchial wall, a submucosa, a media, or an adventitia of the bronchus with the laterally extended needle,
- wherein the expandable element comprises an inflatable body, and expanding the expandable element comprises inflating the inflatable body, and
- wherein the inflatable body comprises a flexible, non-distensible first section and an elastomeric second section.
A method of maintaining bronchial patency in a bronchus of a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a catheter in the bronchus;
- expanding an expandable element disposed on a distal end of the catheter positioned in the bronchus to extend a needle laterally from the expandable element and place a section of the expandable element fully surrounding the needle in sealing contact against a bronchial wall;
- and
- delivering an amount of a therapeutic agent to tissue surrounding the bronchus through the laterally extended needle,
- wherein the amount is effective to limit recurrent bronchial occlusion by a therapeutically beneficial amount,
- wherein delivery comprises injecting the amount of the therapeutic agent into one or more of the bronchial wall, a submucosa, a media, or an adventitia of the bronchus with the laterally extended needle,
- wherein the expandable element comprises an inflatable body, and expanding the expandable element comprises inflating the inflatable body, and
- wherein inflating the inflatable body comprises opening an involuted section of the inflatable body to laterally extend the needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.