Balloon catheter with porous outer member for air purging
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Publication Number
US-12465730-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A balloon catheter which allows for faster preparation and effective purging of air. The catheter includes an elongated, flexible catheter having a tubular outer member and a tubular inner member each having a respective lumen. The inner member is at least partially disposed in the outer member lumen such that an outer surface of the inner member and an inner surface of the outer member together define an annular inflation lumen. The outer member has micropores or micro-holes configured such that when a contrast agent is injected into the inflation lumen, the micropores or micro-holes allow air to pass therethrough and thereafter become clogged by the contrast agent. The catheter also has a balloon member having its ends secured to and circumferentially around the outer member such that an inner surface of the balloon member and the outer surface of the outer member define an inflatable balloon interior.
Core Innovation
A balloon catheter includes an elongated, tubular outer member with one or more micro-holes through a wall of the outer member. The micro-holes have a nominal size and are configured so that when a contrast agent is injected into the outer member lumen, the micro-holes allow air and contrast agent to pass therethrough and thereafter become clogged by plugs formed in the micro-holes by the contrast agent, thereby sealing the one or more micro-holes from allowing contrast agent and air to pass through the micro-holes.
The catheter also includes a balloon member secured to an outer surface of the outer member and having an inflatable balloon interior. An inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon interior and the outer member lumen, and the outer member has one or more inflation passages through the wall underlying the balloon member that form a fluid pathway between the inflation lumen and the balloon interior.
The inflation passages are configured such that they are not clogged by the contrast agent when contrast agent is injected through the one or more inflation passages to inflate the balloon member. A further aspect provides for purging air from the inflation lumen, the balloon interior, and the outer member by injecting a contrast agent into the inflation lumen so that the contrast agent exits through the micro-holes, while maintaining a positive pressure of contrast agent in the inflation lumen to form plugs that seal the micro-holes.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Across these claims, the core coverage is based on three inventive features: micro-holes that vent air and contrast agent and then become clogged to seal, separate inflation passages configured to avoid clogging by the contrast agent during balloon inflation, and purging air using contrast-agent plug formation under positive pressure.
Micro-holes that vent then become clogged to seal
An elongated, tubular outer member having one or more micro-holes through a wall of the outer member, the one or more micro-holes having a nominal size and configured such that when a contrast agent is injected into the outer member lumen, the micro-holes allow air and contrast agent to pass therethrough and thereafter become clogged by plugs formed in the micro-holes by the contrast agent and thereby seal the one or more micro-holes from allowing contrast agent and air to pass through the micro-holes.
Balloon inflated via not-clogged inflation passages
An inflatable balloon interior in a balloon member secured to an outer surface of the outer member, with an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon interior and the outer member lumen, and the outer member having one or more inflation passages through the wall underlying the balloon member that form a fluid pathway between the inflation lumen and the balloon interior, wherein the one or more inflation passages are configured such that the one or more inflation passages are not clogged by the contrast agent when contrast agent is injected through the one or more inflation passages to inflate the balloon member.
Purging air using contrast-agent plug formation under positive pressure
Preparing the balloon catheter for use in a medical procedure by injecting a contrast agent into the inflation lumen, through the outer member and into the balloon member thereby purging air from the inflation lumen, the balloon interior, and the outer member out through the micro-holes of the outer member; and maintaining a positive pressure of contrast agent in the inflation lumen such that the contrast agent forms plugs in the micro-holes which seal the micro-holes of the outer member from allowing contrast agent and air from passing through the micro-holes.
Across the independent claim set, the inventive coverage centers on a tubular outer member with micro-holes that become clogged by contrast-agent plugs to seal the micro-holes after venting air, while a balloon is inflated through inflation passages configured not to be clogged by the contrast agent; the method claim further covers purging air by contrast-agent injection and maintaining positive pressure to form the sealing plugs.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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