Steerable perfusion dilatation catheter

Claim 1

A steerable dilatation catheter for use in coronary angioplasty, comprising: (a) an outer tubular member having proximal and distal portions and having an inflatable balloon toward the distal end thereof; (b) an inner tubular member disposed within the outer tubular member having an inner lumen and proximal and distal portions and generally defining an annular passageway with the outer tubular member for inflation and deflation of the balloon, the distal portion of the inner tubular member extending through and beyond the interior of the balloon; (c) means sealing the sidewalls of the distal ends of the inner and outer tubular members together adjacent the distal end of the balloon to close the distal end thereof with at least one perfusion passageway passing through the sealed distal ends and being in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the inner tubular member; (d) means sealing the sidewalls of the inner and outer tubular members together at an eccentric location along one side thereof adjacent the proximal end of the balloon without substantial obstruction of the inflation/deflation passageway with at least one perfusion passageway extending through the sealed sidewalls of the inner and outer tubular members. said passageways being in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the inner tubular member for carrying blood therethrough to the perfusion passageways passing through the sealed sidewalls of the distal ends of the inner and outer tubular members; and (e) a guidewire extending through and fixed within the innez lumen in the inner tubular member with a distal portion of the guidewire extending beyond the distal end of the tubular members.