ULTRASONICALLY VISIBLE MEDICAL BALLOON ASSEMBLY

摘要

A balloon catheter assembly (10) includes a balloon structure (20) formed of an inner balloon (40) and an outer balloon (70) which entirely envelops the inner balloon (40). The inner balloon (40) can be filled with air or other echogenic fluid and inflates to a diameter substantially less than the inflated diameter of the outer balloon (70), typically to a diameter of no more than 50% of the inflated diameter of the outer balloon (70). The inner balloon (40) can be inflated with air or other echogenic fluid, enabling the balloon structure (20) to be visible under ultrasonic imaging. The inner balloon (40) is protected within the outer balloon (70) and is shorter than the outer balloon (70). The assembly (10) can be used for PTA procedures, for deploying an implantable medical device or for other medical applications.

主权项

1. A balloon catheter assembly including:
a carrier catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, and at least first and second lumens passing through the catheter; a balloon assembly including an inner inflatable balloon attached in fluid tight manner at the distal end of the carrier catheter, the inner balloon providing an inner chamber; and an outer inflatable balloon disposed concentrically over the inner balloon, the outer balloon being attached in fluid tight manner at the distal end of the catheter and providing an outer chamber; the first lumen of the catheter including an outlet fluidically coupled to the inner chamber, the second lumen of the catheter including an outlet fluidically coupled to the outer chamber, whereby the inner and outer balloons are independently inflatable; wherein the inner balloon has an inflated diameter no more than 50% of the inflated diameter of the outer balloon.