Catheter with a balloon

摘要

A catheter with a balloon element is provided with ribs under the balloon element so as to prevent the balloon from being attached to the shaft of the catheter to an extent where the balloon is difficult to inflate. The number of ribs can be any number above 3, but 6 to 16 ribs are preferred.

主权项

1. A catheter comprising:
a shaft comprising a tubular element extending in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction along the tubular element, the tubular element having an outer surface, a plurality of attachment surfaces, and a catheter surface; and a balloon element fitted on the shaft and coupled to the plurality of attachment surfaces such that the balloon element has an inner surface area between the plurality of attachment surfaces; the plurality of ribs are positioned under the balloon element, each of the plurality of ribs comprising a peak and a balloon contact surface, each peak being rounded in a circumferential direction about an axis of the catheter extending in the longitudinal direction, and a radius of curvature of each peak is less than a radius of curvature of the shaft; and the tubular element comprising at least two surfaces which are attenuated relative to the balloon contact surfaces of the plurality of ribs such that a surface area of the shaft provided for contacting the inner surface area of the balloon element when deflated is less than the inner surface area of the balloon element when deflated, the balloon element contacting at least one of the balloon contact surfaces when deflated.