US 7,022,106 B2 Apr. 4, 2006
CATHETER HAVING ENHANCED DISTAL
PUSHABILITY
Inventor: lb Erling Jorgensen, Haigerloch (DE)
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Vascular Entities Limited, Galway (IE)
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
Appl. No.: 11/199,780
Filed: Aug. 9, 2005
Prior Publication Data
US 2005/0273052 Al Dec. 8, 2005
Related U.S. Application Data
Division of application No. 09/999,493, filed on Nov. 30, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,960,188.
Int. CI.
A61M 29/00 (2006.01)
U.S. CI 604/103.09; 604/96.01;
606/192
Field of Classification Search 604/103.09,
604/96.01, 523-526, 102.02; 606/194, 195,
606/191, 192 See application file for complete search history.
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
Apparatus for enhancing pushability and minimizing kinking of a balloon catheter is provided, wherein a catheter comprises inner and outer tubes, and a balloon that is proximally affixed to the outer tube and distally affixed to the inner tube. The outer tube extends distal to the proximal affixation point and at least partially into the balloon segment to provide additional stiffness and pushability. The outer tube may taper and connect to the inner tube or to radiopaque markers disposed thereon. The outer tube further may be selectively reinforced, as by using multipart construction or using different tube textures, to selectively provide added stiffness in areas susceptible to kinking.
16 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
