Abstract A balloon catheter (10) with an unreinforced stem (18b) collapses compactly. A method of introducing a balloon catheter into the body passage of a patient consists of loading the balloon end of the catheter into the unattached sheath (23) of an endoscope and passing the elongated tubular leg (12) attached to the balloon (11) through the lumen of a working channel of an unattached bridge (24) of an endoscope; then joining the bridge and the sheath to form a unitary endoscope and introducing the balloon into the body passage of a patient. A kit is disclosed which includes a balloon catheter and a separate adapter (14) which can be used to introduce inflating fluid into the balloon.
A method of introducing a collapsed balloon of a balloon catheter into a body passage of a patient through an endoscope, said method comprising: (a) loading into the channel of the unattached sheath of an endoscope the distal end of a catheter having a collapsed but inflatable balloon at the distal end and an elongated leg at the proximal end; (b) loading the elongated leg into and through a working channel in an unattached bridge of an endoscope; (c) joining the sheath of the endoscope to the bridge to form a unitary endoscope containing the collapsed balloon in the sheath; and (d) moving the collapsed balloon out of the sheath into a desired location in a body passage of a patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 in which the balloon portion is inflated to dilate the body passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of claim 2 in which the body passage is the urethra and the balloon is inflated with inflating fluid to stretch and expand the effective size of the urethra.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 2 in which the balloon portion is inflated by introducing inflating fluid into the balloon through a passage in the elongated leg.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A kit for dilating a body passage, said kit comprising a balloon catheter having a balloon at the distal end in communication with an elongated tubular member; and a separate adapter which can be attached to the other end of the tubular member and used to introduce inflating fluid into the balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A kit of claim 5 in which the balloon catheter includes radiopaque markers or fillers which can be used to locate the balloon in the body of a patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A kit of claim 5 in which the balloon catheter has an unreinforced stem to which the elongated tubular leg is operatively attached, said stem being collapsible so that it will collapse with the balloon to provide a more compact profile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A kit for dilating a body passage, said kit comprising: (a) a balloon catheter having a balloon at the distal end and an elongated tubular leg operatively attached to the balloon; (b) an elongated guide member extending through the balloon portion, the length of the tubular leg and out of said leg; and (c) an adapter for connection to the free proximal end of the leg to inflate the balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A balloon catheter comprising a balloon having a stem and a tubular leg for inflating the balloon attached to the stem, a portion of said stem being unreinforced so that it will collapse with the balloon to provide a more compact profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein the catheter is a uroplasty catheter.