Endoscopic apparatus having an expandable balloon delivery system

1. An apparatus cooperable with a grasping slot of an elevator for an endoscope having a proximal end defining an endoscope port, the apparatus comprising:

an expandable balloon disposable through the endoscope for dilating a stricture in the body duct; and

a catheter disposable about the expandable balloon and cooperable with the grasping slot of the elevator to secure the catheter at a stricture, the catheter comprising proximal and distal portions along a longitudinal axis thereof, the proximal portion comprising a scored splittable portion formed therealong to define first and second sections separable from each other by the scored splittable portion, and the distal portion being unscored and structured not to be split for protecting and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture, the first and second sections configured to be peeled from each other by tearing the scored splittable portion, thereby distally moving a point of peeling from the proximal end of the catheter until the point of peeling abuts the endoscope port such that the catheter is unable to distally move, the distal portion being secured in a longitudinal position relative to the balloon and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal portion comprises a distal splittable portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the splittable portion is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene to define the first and second sections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the splittable portion is comprised of a molecular structure configured to allow tearing when pulled apart to define the first and second sections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable balloon is a dilatation balloon catheter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable balloon is made of polymeric material comprising at least one of the following components: polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, perfluoroelastomer, fluoroelastomer, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, silicone, polytetrafluroethylene, styrene-butadiene, rubber, and polyisobutylene.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the catheter is made of polymeric material comprising at least one of the following components: polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, perfluoroelastomer, fluoroelastomer, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, silicone, polytetrafluroethylene, styrene-butadiene, rubber, and polyisobutylene.

8. An endoscopic system comprising

an insertion tube extending to a distal tip and including an elevator movably attached thereto, the elevator having an inner side formed thereon defining a grasping slot;

an expandable balloon disposable through the insertion tube for dilitating a stricture; and

a catheter through which the expandable balloon is disposed, the catheter being disposed through an endoscope port and the insertion tube, the catheter being cooperable with the grasping slot to inhibit longitudinal movement of the catheter with respect to the elevator, the catheter comprising proximal and distal portions along a longitudinal axis thereof, the proximal portion comprising a scored splittable portion formed along the longitudinal axis to define first and second sections separable from each other at the scored splittable portion, and the distal portion being unscored and structured not to be split for securing the catheter while protecting and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture, the first and second sections configured to be peeled from each other by tearing the scored splittable portion, thereby distally moving a point of peeling from the proximal end of the catheter until the point of peeling abuts the endoscope port such that the catheter is unable to distally move, the distal portion being secured in a longitudinal position relative to the balloon and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the distal portion comprises splittable portions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the splittable portions are weakened portions formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the catheter to define the first and second sections as first and second halves, respectively.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the splittable portions are weakened portions formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the catheter to define the first and second sections as first and second halves, respectively.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expandable balloon is an expandable balloon catheter being one of a rapid exchange balloon catheter, an over-the-wire balloon catheter, a high-pressure balloon catheter, a fixed wire catheter, an electrophysiology ablation catheter, a multi-lumen balloon catheter, an occlusion balloon catheter, a double balloon catheter, a single balloon catheter, an intrauterine access balloon catheter, angioplasty balloon catheter, dilatation balloon catheter, a urethral dilation balloon catheter, an esophageal balloon catheter, an endoscopic stricturoplasty biliary balloon catheter, percutaneous stricturoplasty biliary balloon catheter, a disposable balloon catheters, a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) balloon catheter, and a stent delivery balloon catheter.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the expandable balloon is made of polymeric material comprising at least one of the following components: polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, perfluoroelastomer, fluoroelastomer, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, silicone, polytetrafluroethylene, styrene-butadiene, rubber, and polyisobutylene.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the catheter is made of polymeric material comprising at least one of the following components: polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, perfluoroelastomer, fluoroelastomer, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, silicone, polytetrafluroethylene, styrene-butadiene, rubber, and polyisobutylene.

15. An apparatus cooperable with a grasping slot of an elevator for an endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

an expandable balloon disposable through the endoscope for dilating a stricture in the body duct; and

a catheter disposable about the expandable balloon and cooperable with the grasping slot of the elevator to secure the catheter at a stricture, the catheter comprising proximal and distal portions along a longitudinal axis thereof, the proximal portion comprising a splittable portion formed therealong to define first and second sections separable from each other, thereby distally moving a point of peeling from the proximal end of the catheter until the point of peeling abuts a port on the endoscope, the distal portion of the catheter being unscored and structured not to be split and to maintain the expandable balloon at the stricture.

16. An apparatus cooperable with a grasping slot of an elevator for an endoscope having a proximal end defining an endoscope port, the apparatus comprising:

an expandable balloon disposable through the endoscope for dilitating a stricture in the body duct; and

a catheter disposable about the expandable balloon and cooperable with the grasping slot of the elevator to secure the catheter at a stricture, the catheter comprising proximal and distal portions along a longitudinal axis thereof, the proximal portion comprising two slits to define first and second sections having tabs separated from each other by the slits, the tabs of the first and second sections configured to be pulled to peel the first and second sections from each other beginning at the two slits, thereby distally moving a point of peeling from the proximal end of the catheter until the point of peeling abuts the endoscope port, the distal portion being structured not to be split for protecting and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture the distal portion being secured in a longitudinal position relative to the balloon and maintaining the expandable balloon at the stricture.