Ultrasonically visible medical balloon assembly

• Main Authors: Steen Aggerholm, Thomas Lysgaard, Lee Hans Bouwman, Attila Gyorgy Krasznai, Rasmus Buch Moeller
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.06.2016
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; 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; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

A balloon catheter assembly comprises a carrier catheter 12 having at least first and second lumens for independently inflating inner and outer balloons 40, 70. The outer balloon in arranged concentrically over the inner balloon. The inner balloon has an inflated diameter no more than 50% of the inflated diameter of the outer balloon. The outer balloon may be wrapped or folded, wherein inflation of the inner balloon does not cause the outer balloon to become unwrapped. The inner balloon may be shorter than the outer balloon and may be inflated by an echogenic fluid such as air. The inner balloon may be formed from polyurethane or polyether block amide. The balloon assembly may carry an implantable medical device such as a stent. Also claimed are a balloon assembly comprising an outer balloon wrapped around an inner balloon and an assembly having an inner balloon inflated by air.