SLIP-LAYERED CATHETER BALLOON

• Main Authors: CHIN, YEM, WANG, JAMES C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 06.07.1995
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

A slip-layered balloon catheter (10) for insertion into a bodily conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (21) having at least one lumen (26) for delivery of a fluid inflation media and a slip-layered balloon (12, 30a) made up of a plurality of layers (14 15, 37) with a low-friction substance (18, 42) between the layers. The low-friction substance causes the layers to slide readily relative to one another, softening the balloon while maintaining its strength. Optionally, the balloon (30a) includes a plurality of slip-layered segments (40) radially disposed about the balloon wall, and separated by lengthwise ridges (41) joining the layers of each segment together. Also optionally, an elastic sleeve (51) surrounds the balloon wall to improve refordability of the balloon (50).