IP Library › Patent Application 11726168
Patent Application
App. No. 11/726,168

Balloon catheter with molded stepped balloon

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/726,168
Abstract

A balloon catheter suitable for deploying a stent utilizes a balloon molded with a stepped diameter profile.

Claims (66)

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A balloon catheter for use in vascular anatomy, the balloon catheter comprising:

a catheter body, the catheter body being movably disposed about a guidewire; and

a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the catheter body, the balloon including a balloon outer skin, the balloon having a first section with a first average diameter, and second section with a second average diameter that is smaller than the first average diameter, the first and second sections being coupled by a transition section that has a geometry and diameter transitioning between the first section and the second section.

12 . The catheter of claim 11 , further comprising: a radiopaque marker positioned at the balloon.

13 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the balloon is made of any suitable polymer, non-polymer or composite material thereof.

14 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the first average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the first section.

15 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the second average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the second section.

16 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the first section is tapered.

17 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second section is tapered.

18 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a proximal section of the balloon.

19 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a distal portion of the balloon.

20 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the catheter body is part of an over-the-wire catheter system.

21 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the catheter body is part of a rapid-exchange catheter system.

22 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the balloon catheter is configure for use in an angioplasty application in a vessel with a stenting procedure.

23 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the balloon catheter is configure for use in an angioplasty application in a vessel without a stenting procedure.

24 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the balloon catheter is configured for use with a stent for a stent delivery application.

25 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the balloon catheter is used as a stent delivery system with a stent designed for any vascular anatomy.

26 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the first section has a larger length than a length of the second section.

27 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein a length of the second is greater than a length of the first section.

28 . The balloon catheter of claim 11 , wherein the lengths of the first and second sections are about the same.

29 . An angioplasty balloon catheter for use in vascular anatomy, comprising:

an angioplasty catheter body, the catheter body being movably disposed about a guidewire; and

a tubular balloon coupled to a distal end of the angioplasty catheter body and including, a shaped balloon skin, the balloon having a shaped outer geometry and size to reduce vessel damage when positioned at a point of a vessel.

30 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , further comprising: a radiopaque marker positioned at the tubular balloon.

31 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon is made of any suitable polymer, non-polymer or composite material thereof.

32 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon includes a first section with a first average diameter, and a second section with a second average diameter.

33 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein the first average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the first section.

34 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein the second average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the second section.

35 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the first section is tapered.

36 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the second section is tapered.

37 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a proximal section of the balloon.

38 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a distal portion of the balloon.

39 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the catheter body is part of an over-the-wire catheter system.

40 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the catheter body is part of a rapid-exchange catheter system.

41 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon catheter is configure for use in an angioplasty application in a vessel with a stenting procedure.

42 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon catheter is configure for use in an angioplasty application in a vessel without a stenting procedure.

43 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon catheter is configured for use with a stent for a stent delivery application.

44 . The balloon catheter of claim 29 , wherein the balloon catheter is used as a stent delivery system with a stent designed for any vascular anatomy.

45 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein the first section has a larger length than a length of the second section.

46 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein a length of the second is greater than a length of the first section.

47 . The balloon catheter of claim 32 , wherein the lengths of the first and second sections are about the same.

48 . A stent delivery device, comprising:

a catheter body, the catheter body being movably disposed about a guidewire;

a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the catheter body, the balloon including a balloon outer skin, the balloon having a first section with a first average diameter, and second section with a second average diameter that is smaller than the first average diameter, the first and second sections being coupled by a transition section that has a geometry and diameter transitioning between the first section and the second section; and

a vascular stent positioned on an exterior of the balloon exterior.

49 . The device of claim 48 , further comprising: a radiopaque marker positioned at the balloon.

50 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the balloon is made of any suitable polymer, non-polymer or composite material thereof.

51 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the first average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the first section.

52 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the second average diameter is substantially the same along an entire length of the second section.

53 . The device of claim 48 , wherein at least a portion of the first section is tapered.

54 . The device of claim 48 , wherein at least a portion of the second section is tapered.

55 . The device of claim 48 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a proximal section of the balloon.

56 . The device of claim 48 , wherein a radiopaque marker is positioned at a distal portion of the balloon.

57 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the catheter body is part of an over-the-wire catheter system.

58 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the catheter body is part of a rapid-exchange catheter system.

59 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the device is used for any vascular anatomy.

60 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the first section has a larger length than a length of the second section.

61 . The device of claim 48 , wherein a length of the second is greater than a length of the first section.

62 . The device of claim 48 , wherein the lengths of the first and second sections are about the same.

63 . A method of treating vascular anatomy, comprising:

providing a catheter that includes a balloon with a transition section that couples a first section with a second section, the transition section having a geometry and diameter transitioning from a greater diameter of the first section to a lesser diameter the second section;

mounting a stent in a non-expanded state on an exterior of the balloon;

positioning the catheter with the stent in a non-expanded state at a region of the vascular anatomy;

inflating the balloon and deploying the stent in an expanded state at the region of vascular anatomy; and

removing the catheter from the vascular anatomy.