| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention provides a low-profile balloon catheter which is extremely maneuverable and capable of dilating an occluded artery with minimal risk of angina. The catheter is highly maneuverable because its distal section has substantially coaxial inner and outer tubes which are in relatively tight mechanical communication at their proximal end and their distal ends are mechanically connected only via the balloon. As a result, the inner distal tube is relatively independent of the outer distal tube. The proximal section of the catheter is relatively stiff and preferably has two lumens therethrough. One lumen, which is substantially larger, is used to actively perfuse oxygenated blood, drugs, or dyes distal to the tip of the catheter at flowrates up to about 100 cc/min. Preferably, the inner surface of this first perfusion lumen has a shape at its inner surface that permits the second, smaller lumen to "nest" adjacent to and substantially within said inner surface of said first perfusion lumen. This "nesting" relationship between the two lumens maximizes the area of the proximal section that can be used for perfusion and insertion of the guidewire and inflation fluid through the second lumen. In order to provide a flexible, more maneuverable distal tip for the catheter, the first perfusion lumen is in fluid communication with an inner, substantially coaxial tube in the distal section of the catheter. This inner tube extends through an outer tube that is mechanically connected to the catheter and to the proximal end of the balloon. The inner tube extends through the balloon, which is mechanically connected to the inner tube at its distal end, and then empties the contents from the first perfusion lumen at the distal end of the catheter. <IMAGE></p> |
