US20050059965A1
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US
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Catheter balloons
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 2003-09-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-09-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to catheter balloons wherein the balloon are constructed of hydrophilic energy conductive polymers. It also relates to catheter balloons that self-anchor at a target site in a patient's body. Finally, it relates to catheter balloons with very small cross-sectional profiles at the distal end.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Eberl
- 👤 Mark Forrest
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1027; A61M25/1029; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61M25/1002; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1334; Y10T428/1345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
1 . A balloon catheter comprising a distally-located inflatable balloon comprising an energy-conductive hydrophilic polymer having a tensile strength of at least 3000 psi, wherein the balloon is molded to inflate to specified equilibrium dimensions when subjected to about one atmosphere of internal pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
1 . A balloon catheter comprising a distally-located inflatable balloon comprising an energy-conductive hydrophilic polymer having a tensile strength of at least 3000 psi, wherein the balloon is molded to inflate to specified equilibrium dimensions when subjected to about one atmosphere of internal pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
2 . The balloon catheter of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer further has an elasticity that permits the balloon to inflate to dimensions greater than its equilibrium dimensions under more than one atmosphere of internal pressure without failing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
3 . The balloon catheter of claim 2 , wherein the balloon can be inflated to dimensions at least 50% greater than its equilibrium dimensions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
4 . The balloon catheter of any one of claims 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer, when hydrated, comprises from 10 volume percent to about 40 volume percent water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
5 . The balloon catheter of claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer, when hydrated, comprises about 20% volume percent water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
6 . The balloon catheter of either claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises a conductive homopolymeric or co-polymeric thermoplastic polyurethane when hydrated with an electrolytic solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
7 . The balloon catheter of claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is TECOPHILIC®.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
8 . The balloon catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive polymer mask adhered to a surface of the balloon to create a pattern of conductive and non-conductive areas wherein the non-conductive polymer has physical and chemical characteristics compatible with those of the hydrophilic polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
9 . The balloon catheter of claim 8 , wherein the non-conductive polymer comprises a non-conductive homopolymeric or co-polymeric thermoplastic polyurethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
10 . The balloon catheter of claim 9 , wherein the non-conductive polyurethane is TECOFLEX®.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
11 . The balloon catheter of claim 8 wherein the non-conductive polymer is NeoRez 967®.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
12 . The balloon catheter of claim 1 , wherein the conductive areas of the balloon have a wall thickness of from about 0.0005″ to about 0.005″.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
13 . A balloon catheter, wherein, when the balloon is inflated under about one atmosphere of pressure or over-inflated with greater than one atmosphere of pressure, it comprises: a generally elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, a first diameter at or near the proximal end, a second diameter at or near the distal end and a third diameter located between the first and second diameters, wherein: the first and second diameters may be the same or different; the third diameter is less than both the first and second diameters; the first diameter is coupled to the third diameter by a distal-facing sloping surface; and, the second diameter is coupled to the third diameter by a proximal-facing sloping surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
13 . A balloon catheter, wherein, when the balloon is inflated under about one atmosphere of pressure or over-inflated with greater than one atmosphere of pressure, it comprises: a generally elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, a first diameter at or near the proximal end, a second diameter at or near the distal end and a third diameter located between the first and second diameters, wherein: the first and second diameters may be the same or different; the third diameter is less than both the first and second diameters; the first diameter is coupled to the third diameter by a distal-facing sloping surface; and, the second diameter is coupled to the third diameter by a proximal-facing sloping surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
14 . The balloon catheter of claim 13 , wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
15 . The balloon catheter of claim 13 , wherein the distal-facing sloping surface comprises a therapeutic element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
16 . The balloon catheter of claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic element is selected from the group consisting of an RF energy transmitting element, a microwave energy transmitting element, an ultrasound energy transmitting element, a laser light transmitting element, a drug delivery element, a radiation delivery element, a cryogenic element and a cutting element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
17 . The balloon catheter of claim 13 , wherein the balloon comprises a an energy-conductive hydrophilic polymer having a tensile strength of at least 3000 psi.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
18 . The balloon catheter of claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer, when hydrated, comprises from 10 volume percent to about 40 volume percent water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
19 . The balloon catheter of claim 18 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer, when hydrated, comprises about 20% volume percent water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
20 . The balloon catheter of claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises a conductive homopolymeric or co-polymeric thermoplastic polyurethane when hydrated with an electrolytic solution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
21 . The balloon catheter of claim 20 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is TECOPHILIC®.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
22 . The balloon catheter of claim 12 , further comprising a non-conductive polymer mask adhered to the distal-facing surface of the balloon to create a pattern of conductive and non-conductive areas wherein the non-conductive polymer has physical characteristics compatible with those of the hydrophilic polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
23 . The balloon catheter of claim 22 , wherein the non-conductive polymer comprises a non-conductive homopolymeric or co-polymeric thermoplastic polyurethane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
24 . The balloon catheter of claim 23 , wherein the non-conductive polyurethane is TECOFLEX®.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
25 . The balloon catheter of claim 22 , wherein the non-conductive polymer is NeoRez 967®.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
26 . The balloon catheter of claim 22 , wherein the conductive areas of the balloon have a wall thickness of from about 0.0005″ to about 0.005″.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
27 . The balloon catheter of either claim 8 or claim 22 , comprising an ablation balloon catheter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
28 . The balloon catheter of claim 27 , wherein the energy conducted is RF energy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
29 . An electrode assembly, comprising: an elongate member; an inflatable member secured to the elongate member, the inflatable member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a conductive region; and an electrode carried by the elongate member, the electrode located within the lumen of the inflatable member and proximal to the conductive region of the inflatable member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
63 words
29 . An electrode assembly, comprising: an elongate member; an inflatable member secured to the elongate member, the inflatable member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a conductive region; and an electrode carried by the elongate member, the electrode located within the lumen of the inflatable member and proximal to the conductive region of the inflatable member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
30 . The electrode assembly of claim 29 , wherein the inflatable member comprises an energy-conductive hydrophilic polymer having a tensile strength of at least 3000 psi.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
31 . The electrode assembly of claim 29 , wherein the inflatable member is molded to inflate to specified equilibrium dimensions when subjected to about one atmosphere of internal pressure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
32 . The electrode assembly of claim 29 , further comprising a non-conductive polymer mask adhered to a surface of the inflatable member to create a pattern of non-conductive area wherein the non-conductive polymer has physical and chemical characteristics compatible with those of the hydrophilic polymer.
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