Balloon catheter and fluid management system thereof
Inventors
Babko-Malyi, Sergei • Estabrook, Brian • Melsky, Gerald • Thompson, Richard
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10806910-B2
Publication Date
2020-10-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for maintaining a balloon of a balloon catheter at a prescribed pressure of between about 0.2 psi and 1 psi comprises the step of: generating a vacuum within a reservoir defined in a burette that is part of a fluid management system that is configured to controllably inflating and deflating the balloon by circulating balloon fill media along a fluid circuit, wherein generating the vacuum results in formation of a pressure differential along the fluid circuit, thereby allowing the balloon to be maintained at the prescribed pressure between about 0.2 psi and about 1 psi.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a balloon catheter system with a fluid management system that circulates balloon fill media between a reservoir and an inflatable balloon. Pump-generated negative pressure in a vacuum conduit creates a pressure drop in the reservoir and a pressure differential along the circuit, allowing the balloon to be maintained at a pressure between 0.2 psi and 1 psi. The described system also circulates cooling fluid at a flow rate sufficient to cool the balloon.
The reservoir has top and bottom compartments separated by an inner partition wall, with the balloon fill media stored in the bottom compartment and the vacuum conduit communicating with the top compartment. The patent describes normal, trapped-volume, inflation, deflation, and sterilization operating modes, as well as valve configurations for those modes. The partial content does not include a background section or explicitly state the problem being solved.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover a balloon catheter system and a method for maintaining a balloon at a prescribed pressure, encompassing two inventive features.
Balloon catheter system with vacuum-driven fluid management
Claim 1 covers a balloon catheter connected to a reservoir by first and second conduits that deliver and return balloon fill media. A pump circulates the media, while a vacuum conduit communicates with the reservoir to create a pressure differential that allows the balloon to have a pressure between 0.2 psi and 1 psi. The reservoir is partitioned into top and bottom compartments and includes inlet, outlet, and vacuum valves, together with valves that configure the circuit.
Method for maintaining balloon pressure through selectable operating modes
Claim 11 covers maintaining a balloon at a prescribed pressure between 0.2 psi and 1 psi using the reservoir, conduits, pump, and vacuum-generated pressure differential. It identifies normal, trapped-volume, balloon inflation, balloon deflation, and sterilization operating modes, with different valve states specified for each mode.
The independent claims cover both the fluid-management system and its use to maintain balloon pressure. Their shared features include circulation of balloon fill media, vacuum-induced pressure in a partitioned reservoir, and valve-controlled operation.
Stated Advantages
The system is stated to support single-operator control.
Documented Applications
The system is described for controllably inflating and deflating a balloon catheter and maintaining the balloon at a prescribed pressure. The described fluid circulation also provides cooling of the balloon.
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