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EP0275230A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Catheter with corkscrew-like balloon

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-01-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-06
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Abstract

Abstract A helical balloon (18) is attached to the distal end of a catheter (10) to serve when inflated as a therapeutic tool for the removal of blood clots and as a diagnostic tool for physical measurements and the application of treatment and other materials.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas J. Fogarty
  • 👤 Thomas B. Kinney
  • 👤 James C. Finn, Iii

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0125; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61B2017/22034; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0023; A61M2025/0025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 60 words
A catheter comprising: an elongate flexible tube having a through lumen; an inflatable and deflatable helical balloon attached to and carried by said tube adjacent the distal end of said tube, said balloon comprising a plurality of spaced apart helical turns disposed about said tube; and a port formed in said tube providing communication between said lumen and said balloon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 60 words
A catheter comprising: an elongate flexible tube having a through lumen; an inflatable and deflatable helical balloon attached to and carried by said tube adjacent the distal end of said tube, said balloon comprising a plurality of spaced apart helical turns disposed about said tube; and a port formed in said tube providing communication between said lumen and said balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
The catheter of Claim 1, said tube being provided in its outer surface with a helical groove serving as a receiving recess for the helical turns of said balloon whereby said turns of said balloon have a low silhouette profile when said balloon is deflated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
The catheter of Claim 1, at least one of the ends of said balloon extending transversely around said tube and into attached relation to said balloon to thereby form a sealing loop which is responsive to blood pressure or blood flow within a blood vessel to move said catheter along said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 61 words
The catheter of Claim 3, further comprising a plurality of tubular elements carried within said tube and defining other lumens, said other lumens comprising lumens extending through the wall of said tube into communication with external spaces defined between helical turns of said balloon and a lumen extending along the axis of said tube and through a tapered tip portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A catheter according to Claim 1 wherein said balloon comprises an elongated tubular element of a helical configuration extending around the flexible tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
A catheter according to Claim 1 wherein said balloon comprises an annular sleeve concentrically received around the flexible tube, said sleeve having proximal and distal ends sealed to the tube and being proportioned to define a helical chamber between the tube and the sleeve upon inflation of the balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A catheter according to Claim 6 wherein said sleeve is fabricated of an elastomeric material and configured to collapse and contract against the flexible tube upon deflation of the balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A catheter according to Claim 6 wherein the sleeve is fabricated of a nonelastic flexible inner sheath contained within an elastomeric outer sheath, said outer sheath being configured to contract and collapse the inner sheath against the flexible tube upon deflation of the balloon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 72 words
A catheter comprising: an elongate flexible tube; an inflatable and deflatable helical balloon carried by said tube adjacent the distal end of said tube, the distal end of said balloon being attached to said tube, said balloon comprising a plurality of spaced-apart helical turns disposed about said tube, the proximal end of said balloon extending through an opening in said tube and extending along said tube for connection to balloon inflation means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 72 words
A catheter comprising: an elongate flexible tube; an inflatable and deflatable helical balloon carried by said tube adjacent the distal end of said tube, the distal end of said balloon being attached to said tube, said balloon comprising a plurality of spaced-apart helical turns disposed about said tube, the proximal end of said balloon extending through an opening in said tube and extending along said tube for connection to balloon inflation means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 67 words
The catheter of Claim 9, the proximal end of the balloon being feedable in one direction through said tube opening to move the helical turns of said balloon away from said tube while reducing the distances between adjacent turns and being feedable in the other direction through said tube opening to cause said helical turns to bear against said tube and increase the distances between adjacent turns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 92 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having a through lumen and an open distal end; an elongate balloon extending longitudinally from the distal end of the tube, said balloon being movable between collapsed and extended conditions and having an open proximal end secured to the distal end of the tube; an elongate element extending through the tube and into engagement with the balloon, said element being movable relative to the tube; and means to expand the balloon into a helical configuration in response to movement of the element relative to the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 92 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having a through lumen and an open distal end; an elongate balloon extending longitudinally from the distal end of the tube, said balloon being movable between collapsed and extended conditions and having an open proximal end secured to the distal end of the tube; an elongate element extending through the tube and into engagement with the balloon, said element being movable relative to the tube; and means to expand the balloon into a helical configuration in response to movement of the element relative to the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 66 words
A catheter according to Claim 11 wherein: said means comprises a flexible wire within the tube, said wire having one end secured in engagement with the tube and another end secured in engagement with the balloon in spaced relationship to the distal end of the tube; and said movement of the elements relative to the tube functions to force the wire into an expanded helical configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 42 words
A catheter according to Claim 12 wherein said wire assumes an elongate helical configuration when the balloon is in the contracted condition and the elongate element is moved axially relative to the tube to force the wire into an expanded helical configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 45 words
A catheter according to Claim 12 wherein said wire assumes an elongate generally straight configuration when the balloon is in the contracted condition and the elongate element is rotated and moved axially relative to the tube to force the wire into an expanded helical configuration.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 67 words
A method of removing an adherent clot from a blood vessel comprising: attaching an elongate balloon in contracted condition to the distal end of a catheter; passing the distal end of said catheter through said clot so that said balloon is within or past said clot; expanding said balloon into an expanded helical configuration; and withdrawing said catheter, and said clot with it, from said blood vessel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 67 words
A method of removing an adherent clot from a blood vessel comprising: attaching an elongate balloon in contracted condition to the distal end of a catheter; passing the distal end of said catheter through said clot so that said balloon is within or past said clot; expanding said balloon into an expanded helical configuration; and withdrawing said catheter, and said clot with it, from said blood vessel.

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