BALLOON CATHETER FOR PROSTHETIC VALVES
A balloon catheter ( 8 ) for post-implantation dilation of a self-expanding stent-valve ( 12 ) that comprises a stent component ( 14 ) and a valve component ( 16 ), the balloon catheter comprising an inflatable region ( 10 ) shaped to include a first region ( 30 ) configured for applying a dilation force to an anchor portion ( 18 ) of the stent-component, and at least one second region ( 32 a/b ) for applying less dilation to a leaflet portion ( 24 ) of the valve component, wherein the first region ( 30 ) has a larger diameter than the second region ( 32 a/b ).
1 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . A balloon catheter for post-implantation dilation of a stent-valve, the balloon catheter comprising an inflatable region shaped to include:
a first region having a cylindrical shape of first diameter and having a first axial length;
a second region neighboring the first region on one side, the second region having a cylindrical shape of second diameter and a second axial length, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter; and
a third region neighboring the first region on an opposite side to the second region, the third region having a cylindrical shape of third diameter and a third axial length, the third diameter being smaller than the first diameter.
23 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , further comprising a fourth region of decreasing diameter extending away from the second region, and a fifth region of decreasing diameter extending away from the third region.
24 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein a difference between the first diameter and at least one of the second and third diameters is selected from: between 1 mm and 5 mm; between 1 mm and 3 mm; between 1 mm and 2 mm.
25 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein the second and third diameters are about equal and/or the second and third axial lengths are about equal.
26 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein the first axial length is not smaller than at least one of the second and third axial lengths.
27 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein the first axial length is about equal to the sum of the second and third axial lengths.
28 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein (i) the first axial length is between 10 mm and 30 mm, and/or (ii) at least one of the second and third axial lengths is between 5 mm and 20 mm.
29 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein the first, second and third regions define a generally continuous internal inflation space of the inflatable region.
30 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , further comprising at least one interface region at an interface between (i) the first region and the second region, and/or (ii) the first region and the third region;
wherein the interface region bridges a diameter difference between the respective regions, and has an axial length of not more than 5 mm.
31 . A balloon catheter according to claim 30 , wherein the axial length of the interface region is not greater than a respective diameter difference bridged by the interface region.
32 . A balloon catheter according to claim 30 , wherein the interface region corresponds to a step-change in diameter.
33 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , wherein the first region (i) is a longitudinally central region of the inflatable region, and/or (ii) has a maximum diameter of the inflatable region.
34 . A balloon catheter according to claim 22 , further comprising a second inflatable region having a shape different from the first mentioned inflatable region, the first and second inflatable regions being arranged one within another, and at least one of the first and second inflatable regions being inflatable independently of the other.
35 . A balloon catheter, optionally according to claim 22 , the balloon catheter for post-implantation dilation of a stent-valve that comprises a stent component and a valve component, the balloon catheter comprising an inflatable region shaped for applying a dilation force to an anchor portion of the stent component, while applying less dilation to a leaflet portion of the valve component.
36 . A balloon catheter, optionally according to claim 22 , the balloon catheter for post-implantation dilation of a stent-valve that comprises a stent component and a valve component, the balloon catheter comprising an inflatable region shaped to include a first region configured for applying a dilation force to an anchor portion of the stent-component, and at least one second region for applying less dilation to a leaflet portion of the valve component, wherein the first region has a larger diameter than the second region.
37 . A balloon catheter according to claim 36 , wherein the first and second regions neighbor each other, the first region having a cylindrical shape and the second region having a cylindrical shape.
38 . A balloon catheter according to claim 38 , wherein a difference between the first diameter and the second diameter is selected from: between 1 mm and 5 mm between 1 mm and 3 mm; between 1 mm and 2 mm.
39 . A combination of:
a balloon catheter as defined in claim 22 ; and a stent-valve.
40 . A combination as defined in claim 39 , wherein the stent-valve comprises: a stent including an anchor region and a valve support region which are at least partly offset relative to each other; and a valve component including a leaflet portion.
41 . A combination as defined in claim 39 , wherein the stent-valve is a self-expanding stent-valve.