Balloon catheter with floating hub

Abstract

A balloon catheter for use with a guidewire includes an elongated, tubular shaft extending in a longitudinal direction, said shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An inflatable balloon is connected to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon including a working surface. A radiopaque identifier is provided for identifying the working surface. A receiver adjacent the proximal end of the shaft is adapted for allowing the shaft to move relative to the receiver in at least the longitudinal direction.

Description

[0001]The following U.S. Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference: 61 / 608,852; 61 / 608,859; 61 / 608,862; 61 / 608,897; 61 / 608,902; 61 / 608,908; 61 / 608,913; 61 / 608,917; 61 / 608,927; 61 / 608,932; 61 / 608,941; and 61 / 747,444.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This disclosure relates generally to catheters for performing medical procedures, such as balloon angioplasty and, more particularly, to a catheter including a floating hub, which may be used for ensuring the proper alignment between a radiopaque identifier and a portion of the balloon, such as the working surface.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Balloons are routinely used to resolve or address flow restrictions or perhaps even complete blockages in tubular areas of the body, such as arteries or veins. In many clinical situations, the restrictions are caused by hard solids, such as calcified plaque, and require the use of high pressures to compact such blockages. Commercially available balloons employ complex technology to achieve high...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The technical effect of the patent is to provide a balloon that allows for better identification of the working surface during interventional procedures.

Problems solved by technology

In many clinical situations, the restrictions are caused by hard solids, such as calcified plaque, and require the use of high pressures to compact such blockages.

Commercially available balloons employ complex technology to achieve high pressure requirements without sacrificing the profile of the balloon.

The use of contrast agent prolongs the inflation / deflation times and also poses the risk of iodine exposure to patients sensitive to iodine.

In this regard, a non-radiopaque substance could be used in lieu of the contrast agent, such as for example saline or carbon dioxide, but such substances are invisible during X-ray imaging, and thus do not enhance visibility.

Even upon exercising great care to position the markers properly on the underlying shaft in alignment with anticipated boundaries of the working surface when the balloon is inflated, there remains a tendency for mismatch due to several possible factors.

The balloon also has a tendency to grow in the longitudinal direction when inflated, especially with large and particularly long balloons.

This may lead to misalignment between radiopaque markers fixed to the shaft and the working surface.

Whatever the cause, the resulting misalignment may prevent the clinician from accurately identifying the location of the working surface of the balloon during an interventional procedure.

This can give the clinician the false perception that the balloon remains inflated, when in fact it is not.

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