Reinforced balloon catheter
A balloon catheter is described having a reinforced, co-axial, duel lumen design. In some embodiments, the balloon catheter includes a purging mechanism designed to purge air from the balloon.
1 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
an outer tubular assembly comprising an inflation lumen;
a balloon, wherein a proximal portion of the balloon is affixed to the outer tubular assembly;
an inner tubular assembly, wherein a distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the inner tubular assembly;
wherein the inner tubular assembly includes a purge port in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon, the purge port comprising a gas-permeable membrane that restricts passage of liquid through the membrane;
wherein the distal portion of the balloon is bonded to the gas-permeable membrane; and
a de-airing channel in fluid communication with the purge port through which gas expelled from the balloon may exit the balloon catheter system.
2 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises pores sized to accommodate gas passage but not liquid passage.
3 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the inner tubular assembly comprises a guidewire port.
4 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the inner tubular assembly is coaxially inserted within a lumen of the outer tubular assembly.
5 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the de-airing channel allows passage of gas out from a distal end of the inner tubular assembly.
6 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is adjacent to the balloon.
7 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon is deflated when suction is applied through the inflation lumen.
8 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the de-airing channel is located between the membrane and a structural layer of the inner tubular assembly.
9 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker band proximally adjacent the de-airing channel.
10 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a syringe including an inflation liquid, a syringe plunger, and a metered controller that actuates the syringe plunger to expel a metered dose of the inflation liquid from the syringe to the inflation lumen.
11 . The balloon catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the metered controller comprises a signal corresponding to the metered dose of the inflation liquid.
12 . The balloon catheter system of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the metered controller rotates to deliver the metered dose of the inflation liquid from the syringe.
13 . The balloon catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the metered controller is connected to a syringe flange at a first end and the syringe plunger at a second end.
14 . The balloon catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the metered controller comprises a protruding element and a groove that mate when the metered dose of inflation liquid has been dispensed.
15 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the purge port and the de-airing channel project into a wall of the inner tubular assembly.
16 . The balloon catheter system of claim 15 , further comprising a distal, non-inflatable portion of the balloon bonded at a distal end of the inner tubular assembly and over the de-airing channel.
17 . The balloon catheter system of claim 16 , wherein the membrane spans an entire distal section of the inner tubular assembly.
18 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
an outer tubular assembly comprising an inflation lumen;
a balloon, wherein a proximal portion of the balloon is affixed to the outer tubular assembly;
wherein an inflation fluid is delivered to the balloon through the inflation lumen;
an inner tubular assembly, wherein a distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the inner tubular assembly;
wherein the inner tubular assembly includes a purge port in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon, the purge port comprising a gas-permeable membrane that restricts passage of liquid through the membrane; and
a de-airing channel in fluid communication with the purge port and in fluid communication with a space external to the balloon catheter system, wherein the purge port and the de-airing channel project into a wall of the inner tubular assembly.
19 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
an outer tubular assembly comprising an inflation lumen;
an inflation means, wherein a proximal portion of the inflation means is affixed to the outer tubular assembly;
an inner tubular assembly, wherein a distal portion of the inflation means is affixed to the inner tubular assembly;
wherein the inner tubular assembly includes a purge port in fluid communication with an interior of the inflation means, the purge port comprising a gas-permeable membrane that restricts passage of liquid through the membrane; and
a de-airing means in fluid communication with the purge port and in fluid communication with a space external to the balloon catheter system;
a distal-non-inflatable portion of the inflation means bonded at a distal end of the inner tubular assembly and over the de-airing means.
20 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
an outer tubular assembly comprising an inflation lumen;
a balloon, wherein a proximal portion of the balloon is affixed to the outer tubular assembly;
an inner tubular assembly, wherein a distal portion of the balloon is affixed to the inner tubular assembly;
wherein the inner tubular assembly includes a purge port in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon, the purge port comprising a gas-permeable membrane that restricts passage of liquid through the membrane;
wherein the membrane spans an entire distal section of the inner tubular assembly; and
a de-airing channel in fluid communication with the purge port through which gas expelled from the balloon may exit the balloon catheter system.