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Publication Number
US-9597214-B2
Publication Date
2017-03-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A stent deployment device comprises an elongate catheter shaft (2), and an inflatable balloon (3). The inflatable balloon (3) is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon (3) is curved in three-dimensional space, and part of the balloon (3) is helically shaped. A stent (6) is movable from a collapsed delivery configuration to a partially expanded intermediate configuration, and subsequently from the intermediate configuration to a fully expanded deployed configuration. In the delivery configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is straight. The longitudinal axis of the stent (6) may be straight or curved in three-dimensional space in the intermediate configuration. In the deployed configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is curved in three-dimensional space. The balloon (3) in the expanded configuration exerts force on the stent (6). In the deployed configuration the stent (6) in turn exerts force on the internal wall of a blood vessel (5) causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel (5) to curve in three-dimensional space.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medical dilation device using an inflatable balloon for location in a blood vessel. The balloon is inflatable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and in the expanded configuration at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon is curved in three-dimensional space.
In the expanded configuration, the balloon directly contacts the internal wall of the blood vessel with a periphery configured to exert a force on the internal wall over an entire circumference. This force causes the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space. In some embodiments, the expanded balloon has an at least partly helically shaped or substantially spiral shaped configuration.
The described approach is also associated with treating a blood vessel by locating a balloon in the blood vessel and inflating it to an expanded configuration in which the balloon periphery directly contacts the internal wall around the entire circumference. The balloon exerts a force on the entire internal wall over an entire circumference, causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space. The expanded configuration can include a balloon diameter identical to a diameter of the internal wall so that the balloon is configured to directly contact the entire internal wall.
Claims Coverage
The document provides four independent claim groups covering a medical dilation device, a method for treating a blood vessel, a medical device with end longitudinal parts having a continuously varying helical angle, and a device and method with a diameter matched to the internal wall. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on an inflatable balloon whose expanded configuration has a longitudinal axis curved in three-dimensional space and whose expanded balloon applies circumferential or entire-wall force to cause 3D curvature of the blood vessel longitudinal axis.
3D-curved longitudinal axis with entire-circumference internal wall force
In a medical dilation device, a balloon is inflatable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, where in the expanded configuration at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon is curved in three-dimensional space and the balloon directly contacts the internal wall of the blood vessel; the balloon periphery is configured to exert a force on the internal wall over an entire circumference of the blood vessel causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space.
Balloon inflation to expanded configuration producing 3D vessel longitudinal curvature
A method for treating a blood vessel including locating a balloon in the blood vessel and inflating the balloon from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration where the balloon periphery directly contacts an internal wall of the blood vessel around the entire circumference and at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon is curved in three-dimensional space, with the balloon exerting a force on the entire circumference of the internal wall causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space.
Continuously varying helical angle in longitudinal end parts
A medical device having a balloon inflatable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration such that in the expanded configuration at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon is curved in three-dimensional space; the balloon has at each end a longitudinal end part, where a longitudinal axis of each longitudinal end part has a helical angle that varies continuously along the length of the end part and increases in a direction away from an end of the balloon.
Diameter identical to internal wall diameter for direct entire-wall contact with 3D axis curvature
A medical dilation device in which the balloon is inflatable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration with at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon curved in three-dimensional space and in which, in the expanded configuration, the balloon has a diameter identical to a diameter of an internal wall of the blood vessel so the balloon is configured to directly contact the entire internal wall; the balloon is configured in the expanded configuration to exert a force on the entire internal wall of the blood vessel over an entire circumference causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space.
Treating by inflating a diameter-matched balloon to apply entire-wall force
A method for treating a blood vessel including locating a balloon in the blood vessel and inflating the balloon from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the balloon has a diameter and at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon is curved in three-dimensional space and the balloon diameter is identical to a diameter of an internal wall of the blood vessel so the balloon directly contacts the entire internal wall; the balloon exerts a force on the entire internal wall causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space.
Across the independent claims, the central inventive concept is an inflatable balloon whose expanded configuration has a longitudinal axis curved in three-dimensional space and that directly contacts the blood vessel internal wall to exert force over an entire circumference or across the entire internal wall to cause the blood vessel longitudinal axis to curve in three-dimensional space. Additional independent-claim scope includes continuously varying helical angle in longitudinal end parts and, in another independent claim, balloon diameter identical to the internal wall diameter for direct entire-wall contact.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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