[54] ADJUSTABLE STIFFNESS DILATATION CATHETER
[75] Inventors: Mauricio L. Fugoso, Chula Vista; Don H. Tran, Westminster, both of Calif.
[73] Assignee: Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
[21] Appl. No.: 202,526
[22] Filed: Feb. 28,1994
[51] Int. CI.6 A61M 29/00; A61M 25/00
[52] U.S. CI 604/102; 604/282; 606/192
[58] Field of Search 604/96-103, 280,
604/282; 606/192-196; 600/18
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
9217236 10/1992 WIPO .
Primary Examiner—John D. Yasko
Assistant Examiner—Adam J. Cermak
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dianne M. F. Plunkett; Harold R.
Patton
[57] ABSTRACT
A catheter with a guidewire shaft (1) with a proximal end which is free to move, the proximal end of the catheter having either a dual lumen (14) embodiment or a single lumen (6) embodiment. The dual lumen (14) embodiment has a stiffening wire lumen (17) through which a stiffening wire (12) extends and an inflation lumen (16) which is in fluid communication with the balloon (3). The single lumen (6) embodiment has a stiffening wire lumen (21) through which the stiffening wire (20) extends with the stiffening wire (20) denning an inflation lumen (22) which is in fluid communication with the balloon (3). A method of changing the stiffness of the distal end of a catheter is disclosed including, placing a stiffening wire (12) in an inflation lumen (5) or placing a stiffening wire (20) in a stiffening wire lumen (21) and advancing the stiffening wire up to the proximal end of the balloon (3) and stopping when the desired level of stiffness is achieved.
8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
