EP0335022A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vascular catheter
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-03-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved balloon-tipped catheter 10 includes means for convectively heating the inflation medium within the balloon 12 during dilation. In the preferred embodiment, the convective heat is provided by a radiant heating block 40 which is attached to a laser light source through an optical waveguide 16 extending the length of the catheter 10. The convectively heated balloon 12 promotes restoration and healing of the arterial wall in the region of stenosis, which region normally suffers from cracking, tearing, and stretching. It has been found that damage to the arterial wall can sometimes result in abrupt closure of the artery and frequent restenosis in the same region.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Ginsburg
- 👤 David F. Profitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/28; A61M25/10; A61B18/082; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22002; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00166; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/046; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/36; A61M25/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends, the distal end being insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end; means for inflating the balloon to provide a volume of inflation medium therein; and means for convectively heating the inflation medium in the balloon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends, the distal end being insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end; means for inflating the balloon to provide a volume of inflation medium therein; and means for convectively heating the inflation medium in the balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the means for convectively heating the volume includes a heat radiating block located inside the balloon, and means for heating the block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as in claim 2, wherein the means for heating the block is a fiber optic waveguide connectable to a laser light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter as in claim 1,2 or 3, further comprising means located at the distal end of the tube for injecting a plurality of perfusate streams, wherein at least some of said perfusate streams are oblique to the axis of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends and at least two isolated lumens extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the distal end is insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end, said balloon being arranged to receive an inflation medium from one of said lumens to provide a volume of inflation medium within the balloon; a heat radiating block secured to the tube within the inflatable balloon; and means for heating the block in order to convectively heat the inflation medium inside the balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends and at least two isolated lumens extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the distal end is insertable into a blood vessel; an inflatable balloon secured to the tube near its distal end, said balloon being arranged to receive an inflation medium from one of said lumens to provide a volume of inflation medium within the balloon; a heat radiating block secured to the tube within the inflatable balloon; and means for heating the block in order to convectively heat the inflation medium inside the balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as in claim 5, wherein the means for heating the block includes a fiber optic waveguide connectable to a laser light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the fiber optic waveguide is inserted through a third lumen extending through the tube from its proximal end to a location adjacent the heat radiating block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter as in claim 2,3,5,6 or 7, wherein the heat radiating block is a finned cylinder having a hollow axial passage, wherein the hollow passage is aligned with a first lumen in the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter as in claim 8, further comprising means located at the distal end of the tube for injecting a plurality of perfusate streams, where at least some of the perfusate streams are oblique to the axis of the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A catheter as in claim 9, wherein the means for injecting is defined by a plurality of oblique ports passing through the wall of the tube from the first lumen to the exterior, said ports being located on the distal side of the heating block so that perfusate may be passed through the first lumen and the hollow passage to said ports.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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