Catheter with a balloon and a separate inflation lumen
A catheter ( 1 ) includes an elongated member ( 2 ) having a proximal end ( 4 ) and a distal end ( 3 ). An inflatable balloon ( 5 ) is arranged on the elongated member in an area of the distal end thereof, the balloon extending from a distal position ( 6 ) to a proximal position ( 7 ). The elongated member includes an inner lumen ( 8 ) extending from the distal end to an end position ( 9 ) which is proximal to the balloon. The inner lumen is open at the distal end. The catheter further includes a duct ( 12 ) connected to the proximal end and to the balloon at the proximal position. The duct defines a separate lumen to convey a fluid to and from the balloon.
1 . A catheter comprising:
an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, and
an inflatable balloon arranged on the elongated member in an area of the distal end thereof, the balloon extending from a distal position to a proximal position,
wherein the elongated member comprises an inner lumen extending from the distal end to an end position proximal to the balloon and a reinforcement member stretching from the proximal end to the end position and having a distal tip in the shape of a ramp pointing towards an access opening, the inner lumen being open at the distal end, and
the catheter comprises a duct connected to the proximal end and to the balloon at the proximal position, the duct defining a separate lumen to convey a fluid to and from the balloon, wherein the duct is freely spirally wound around the elongated member between the proximal end and the balloon at the proximal position.
2 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the duct has a cross section in the form of an oval or circle.
3 . The catheter according to claim 2 , wherein the cross section is an ellipse.
4 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the duct comprises at least one support element arranged longitudinally along a length of the duct within the separate lumen.
5 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated member includes the access opening at the end position, the access opening allowing the passage of a guidewire into and from the inner lumen.
6 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is made of a hollow tube into which the reinforcement member is introduced from the proximal end to the end position.
7 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated member comprises:
a proximal element extending from the proximal end to the end position, the proximal element being made of solid material and serving as the reinforcement member, and
a distal element extending from the end position towards the distal end, the distal element including the inner lumen.
8 . The catheter according to claim 7 , wherein a distal tip of the proximal element is inserted into the inner lumen of the distal element in the area of the end position.
9 . The catheter according to claim 7 , wherein:
the proximal element is made of a metal or metal alloy and
the distal element is made of a polymer material.
10 . The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the duct is freely spirally wound around the elongated member from where the duct is connected to the proximal end.
11 . A catheter comprising:
an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, and
an inflatable balloon arranged on the elongated member in an area of the distal end thereof, the balloon extending from a distal position to a proximal position,
wherein the elongated member comprises a proximal element extending from the proximal end to an end position, a distal element extending from the end position towards the distal end, and an inner lumen extending from the distal end to the end position proximal to the balloon, the proximal element being made of solid material and serving as a reinforcement member, the distal element including the inner lumen, and the inner lumen being open at the distal end, wherein a distal tip of the proximal element is inserted into the inner lumen of the distal element in the area of the end position, and
the catheter comprises a duct connected to the proximal end and to the balloon at the proximal position, the duct defining a separate lumen to convey a fluid to and from the balloon, wherein the duct is freely spirally wound around the elongated member up to where the duct is connected to the balloon at the proximal position.
12 . The catheter according to claim 11 , wherein the duct has a cross section in the form of an oval or circle.
13 . The catheter according to claim 11 , wherein the duct comprises at least one support element arranged longitudinally along a length of the duct within the separate lumen.
14 . The catheter according to claim 11 , wherein the elongated member includes an access opening at the end position, the access opening allowing the passage of a guidewire into and from the inner lumen.
15 . The catheter according to claim 11 , wherein:
the proximal element is made of a metal or metal alloy and
the distal element is made of a polymer material.
16 . A method for manufacturing a catheter, comprising:
a) providing an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated member comprising an inner lumen extending from the distal end towards the proximal end to an end position distal to the proximal end and a reinforcement member stretching from the proximal end to the end position and having a distal tip in the shape of a ramp pointing towards an access opening;
b) arranging an inflatable balloon over the elongated member in an area of the distal end, the balloon extending from a distal position to a proximal position, the end position of the elongated member being located between the proximal end of the elongated member and the proximal position of the balloon;
c) providing a duct, the duct defining a separate lumen;
d) connecting the duct to the proximal end of the elongated member and to the balloon at the proximal position, such that the duct is freely and spirally wound around the elongated member up to where the duct is connected to the balloon at the proximal position; and
e) connecting the balloon to the elongated member.
17 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein the balloon is connected to the elongated member at the proximal position at the same time that the duct is connected to the balloon.
18 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein:
prior to step a), the elongated member is produced by inserting the reinforcement member into a tube spanning from the proximal end to the distal end, the reinforcement member only extending along a part of a length of the tube, and
the part of the tube without the reinforcement member constitutes the inner lumen of the elongated member.
19 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein prior to step a), the elongated member is produced by assembling a proximal element made of solid material with a distal element that includes the inner lumen.
20 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein the duct is freely spirally wound around the elongated member from where the duct is connected to the proximal end.