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:
a catheter body including a main lumen and a purge lumen;
a balloon attached to the catheter body;
wherein the main lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon;
wherein the purge lumen is in fluid communication with both the interior of the balloon and an exterior of the balloon; and
a membrane in fluid communication with both the main lumen and the purge lumen, wherein the membrane permits passage of gas but not liquid.
2 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is elongated.
3 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.
4 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is positioned at least partially below the balloon.
5 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the purge lumen is parallel to the main lumen.
6 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the purge lumen is positioned radially outside of the main lumen.
7 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the purge lumen is comprised of a shorter length than the main lumen.
8 . The balloon catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the purge lumen comprises a purge port in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon.
9 . The balloon catheter system of claim 8 , wherein the membrane extends across the purge port.
10 . The balloon catheter system of claim 8 , wherein the purge port is in fluid communication with the exterior of the balloon.
11 . The balloon catheter system of claim 8 , wherein a distal end of the catheter body includes a distal opening.
12 . The balloon catheter system of claim 11 , wherein the purge port is in fluid communication with the distal opening.
13 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
a catheter body including a main lumen and a purge lumen;
a balloon attached to the catheter body;
a purge port in fluid communication with both the purge lumen and an exterior of the balloon;
wherein the main lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon;
wherein the purge lumen is in fluid communication with both the interior of the balloon and the exterior of the balloon; and
a membrane in fluid communication with both the main lumen and the purge port, wherein the membrane permits passage of gas but not liquid.
14 . The balloon catheter system of claim 13 , wherein the membrane is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.
15 . The balloon catheter system of claim 14 , wherein the membrane extends across the purge port.
16 . The balloon catheter system of claim 13 , wherein a distal end of the catheter body includes a distal opening.
17 . The balloon catheter system of claim 16 , wherein the purge port is in fluid communication with the distal opening.
18 . The balloon catheter system of claim 13 , wherein the purge lumen is positioned radially outside of the main lumen.
19 . The balloon catheter system of claim 13 , wherein the purge lumen is comprised of a shorter length than the main lumen.
20 . A balloon catheter system, comprising:
a catheter body including a main lumen and a purge lumen;
a balloon attached to the catheter body;
a purge port in fluid communication with both the purge lumen and an exterior of the balloon;
wherein the main lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon;
wherein the purge lumen is in fluid communication with both the interior of the balloon and the exterior of the balloon; and
a membrane means for permitting passage of gas but not liquid, wherein the membrane means is in fluid communication with both the main lumen and the purge port, wherein the membrane means is elongated and extends across the purge port, and wherein the membrane means is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.