Self-venting balloon dilatation catheter and method

In a self-venting balloon dilatation catheter, a first tubular element having a lumen extending therethrough, a second tubular element coaxially disposed over said first tubular element and forming a lumen extending between the first and second tubular members, an expandable balloon carried by the second tubular element and having its interior in communication with the lumen between the first and second tubular elements and means disposed between the distal extremities of the first and second tubular elements for venting air from the interior of the balloon but inhibiting escape of a liquid from the balloon.

A self-venting vascular comprising:

• a) a flexible tubular member having at least one inner lumen extending therethrough to an interior portion of the catheter with means to receive liquid under pressure;
• b) a venting means with a flow restrictive passageway having a transverse cross-sectional dimension less than about 0.001 inch extending from the interior portion of the catheter to ambient which allows air but no substantial amount of liquid to pass therethrough while a pressure in excess of 100 psi is maintained in the interior of the catheter.

In a balloon dilatation catheter comprising an elongated tubular member with an inflatable balloon on the distal portion thereof and with an inner lumen extending therein which is in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon and which directs inflating liquid therein, the improvement comprising an air venting means which includes at least one flow restrictive passageway having a transverse cross-sectional dimension less than about 0.001 inch extending between the balloon interior and ambient which allows air but no substantial amounts of inflating liquid to pass therethrough while a pressure in excess of 100 psi is maintained in the balloon interior.