Catheter

Claim 2

A medical catheter for insertion in a bodily organ comprising: a torque-transmitting cable having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion and having a longitudinal axis; the cable comprising at least a first wire wound in a first coil at a first angle in a first direction, and a second wire wound in a second coil, generally concentric to the first coil in a second opposite direction at a second generally opposite angle; the second coil being wound against the first coil, forming the torque-transmitting cable whereby rotational force applied at the proximal end results in generally equivalent rotational movement of the distal end; and whereby the cable is flexible in all directions about the axis except for rotational torque means mounted generally adjacent the distal end for interacting with the bodily organ.

Claim 3

The catheter of claim 1 further comprising: a third wire wound in a third coil around the second coil at a third angle generally opposite the second angle and generally in the first direction.

Claim 4

The catheter of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cable includes a central lumen.

Claim 5

4 The catheter of claim 3 further comprising stylet means slidable within the lumen for longitudinally stiffening the catheter.

Claim 6

The catheter of any preceding claim further comprising: a generally fluid-tight non-torque-transmitting tube encompassing the cable.

Claim 7

The catheter of claim 5 wherein the means for interacting includes an angioplasty balloon mounted on the tube.

Claim 8

The catheter of claim 1, comprising a balloon made of inelastic material having a first frustroconical section tapering outward away from the sheath at a first angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter; a generally cylindrical midsection; and a second frustroconical section tapering down to the distal end of the catheter at a second smaller angle to the longitudinal axis.

Claim 9

An angioplasty device comprising: a torque-transmitting cable having a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, a first wire coil wound at a first angle to the axis forming a central lumen, a second coil wound around the first coil at a second generally opposite angle to the axis, and a third coil wound about the second coil at a third angle generally opoposite the second angle, the three coils forming the cable so that rotational force applied to the proximal end is generally completely transmitted to the distal end, while the cable is flexible in all other directions; a generally fluid-tight flexible, non-torque-transmitting sheath mounted over the cable; a tip wire mounted on the distal end of the cable and extending distally from the cable; a balloon mounted, at its proximal end, on the sheath having an interior open to the central lumen, the balloon having a distal end extending over the tip wire; means for attaching the distal end of the balloon to the tip wire.

Claim 10

An angioplasty device comprising: a torque-transmitting cable having a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, a first wire coil wound at a first angle to the axis forming a central lumen, a second coil wound around the first coil at a second generally opposite angle to the axis, and a third coil wound about the second coil at a third angle generally opoposite the second angle, the three coils forming the cable so that rotational force applied to the proximal end is generally completely transmitted to the distal end, while the cable is flexible in all other directions; a generally fluid-tight flexible, non-torque-transmitting sheath mounted over the cable; a tip wire mounted on the distal end of the cable and extending distally from the cable; a balloon mounted, at its proximal end, on the sheath having an interior open to the central lumen, the balloon having a distal end extending over the tip wire; means for attaching the distal end of the balloon to the tip wire.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8, further comprising: control means mounted on the proximal end of the cable for rotation of the cable and remainder of the catheter, so that the entire sheath and balloon rotate, avoiding twisting of the balloon.