Balloon catheter device
Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricious and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways, is capable of rapid inflation and deflation and has high burst strengths. Balloon covers having these same characteristics are also described for use with conventional embolectomy balloons or angioplasty balloons.
1 - 69 . (canceled)
70 . A balloon catheter comprising:
a) a catheter shaft having a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter shaft having an inflation lumen extending within at least a portion of a distal shaft section; and
b) a balloon comprising a material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils, said balloon having a longitudinal axis, said material oriented helically with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein the balloon is mounted on the distal section of the catheter shaft with an interior chamber in fluid communication with the inflation lumen;
c) said balloon further comprising an elastomeric material.
71 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the balloon has substantially uniform radial expansion.
72 . The balloon catheter according to claim 71 wherein the balloon has an initial deflated diameter and a maximum inflated diameter, and wherein the balloon is capable of being inflated to its maximum diameter and then deflated to substantially its initial deflated diameter.
73 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
74 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
75 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the elastomeric material comprises latex.
76 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone.
77 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the elastomeric material comprises polyurethane.
78 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the elastomeric material comprises latex.
79 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone.
80 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the elastomeric material comprises polyurethane.
81 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the elastomeric material comprises latex.
82 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone.
83 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the elastomeric material comprises polyurethane.
84 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the balloon has a radial compliance of at least about 0.06 millimeters/atmospheres at inflation pressures of about 8 to about 15 atmospheres.
85 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the balloon has a radial compliance of at least about 0.06 millimeters/atmospheres at inflation pressures of about 8 to about 15 atmospheres.
86 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the balloon has a radial compliance of at least about 0.06 millimeters/atmospheres at inflation pressures of about 8 to about 15 atmospheres.
87 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous and contains void spaces, said void spaces being substantially sealed by the elastomeric material.
88 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous and contains void spaces, said void spaces being substantially sealed by the elastomeric material.
89 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous and contains void spaces, said void spaces being substantially sealed by the elastomeric material.
90 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous, wherein at least a portion of the elastomeric material is impregnated into said material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils.
91 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous, wherein at least a portion of the elastomeric material is impregnated into said material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils.
92 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 wherein the material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils is porous, wherein at least a portion of the elastomeric material is impregnated into said material having a microstructure of interconnected fibrils.
93 . The balloon catheter according to claim 70 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
94 . The balloon catheter according to claim 71 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
95 . The balloon catheter according to claim 72 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
96 . The balloon catheter according to claim 73 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
97 . The balloon catheter according to claim 74 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
98 . The balloon catheter according to claim 75 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
99 . The balloon catheter according to claim 76 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
100 . The balloon catheter according to claim 77 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
101 . The balloon catheter according to claim 78 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
102 . The balloon catheter according to claim 79 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
103 . The balloon catheter according to claim 80 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
104 . The balloon catheter according to claim 81 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
105 . The balloon catheter according to claim 82 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
106 . The balloon catheter according to claim 83 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
107 . The balloon catheter according to claim 84 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
108 . The balloon catheter according to claim 85 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
109 . The balloon catheter according to claim 86 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
110 . The balloon catheter according to claim 87 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
111 . The balloon catheter according to claim 88 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
112 . The balloon catheter according to claim 89 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
113 . The balloon catheter according to claim 90 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
114 . The balloon catheter according to claim 91 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.
115 . The balloon catheter according to claim 92 further comprising an expandable stent disposed about and mounted onto the balloon.