Balloon catheter with stent and method for manufacturing it

Abstract

The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising a catheter tube, an inflatable balloon, the ends of which are attached to the catheter tube, and a stent attached around the balloon. The stent extends at least partly along the length of the balloon. In an uninflated state, at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent is provided with a relief structure which is substantially disappeared in an inflated state of the balloon. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a balloon catheter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Balloon catheter comprising a catheter tube, an inflatable balloon having opposite ends and an outside surface, the ends of the balloon being attached to the catheter tube, and a stent attached around the balloon, wherein the stent extends at least partly along the length of the balloon, characterized in that, in an uninflated state, at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent is provided with a relief structure, which is substantially disappeared in an inflated state of the balloon.  
     
     
         2 . Catheter according to  claim 1 , whereby the relief structure comprises at least one groove that extends at least transversely in the longitudinal direction of the balloon.  
     
     
         3 . Catheter according to  claim 2 , whereby the groove extends at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal direction of the balloon.  
     
     
         4 . Catheter according to  claim 2 , whereby the groove extends helically from one end to the other end of the balloon, over the outside surface thereof.  
     
     
         5 . Catheter according to  claim 4 , whereby the relief structure consists of at least two grooves that extend helically from one end to the other end of the balloon and cross each other.  
     
     
         6 . Catheter according to  claim 3 , whereby the relief structure consists of at least two grooves that extend helically from one end to the other end of the balloon and cross each other.  
     
     
         7 . Catheter according to  claim 2 , whereby the relief structure consists of at least two grooves that extend helically from one end to the other end of the balloon and cross each other.  
     
     
         8 . Method for producing a balloon catheter comprising attaching opposite ends of an inflatable balloon to a catheter tube, attaching a stent around the balloon, and providing at least the outside surface of the balloon not covered by the stent with a relief structure.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby first the outside surface of the balloon is provided with the relief structure, and then the stent is attached around the balloon.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby first the stent is attached around the balloon, and then the outside surface of the balloon is provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , whereby before the outside surface of the balloon is provided with the relief structure, obliquely to the stent, padding is applied over the balloon and the stent.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of heat.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 10 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of heat.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 9 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of heat.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of heat.  
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 14 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 13 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 12 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 11 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 10 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 9 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon under the application of raised pressure to the inside of the balloon.  
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 23 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 22 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 21 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 20 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 19 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 18 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         30 . Method according to  claim 17 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         31 . Method according to  claim 16 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 15 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         33 . Method according to  claim 14 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 13 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 12 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 11 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         37 . Method according to  claim 10 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         38 . Method according to  claim 9 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         39 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by winding a wire helically around the balloon.  
     
     
         40 . Method according to  claim 23 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         41 . Method according to  claim 22 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         42 . Method according to  claim 21 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         43 . Method according to  claim 20 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         44 . Method according to  claim 19 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         45 . Method according to  claim 18 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         46 . Method according to  claim 17 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         47 . Method according to  claim 16 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         48 . Method according to  claim 15 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         49 . Method according to  claim 14 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         50 . Method according to  claim 13 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         51 . Method according to  claim 12 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         52 . Method according to  claim 11 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         53 . Method according to  claim 10 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         54 . Method according to  claim 9 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.  
     
     
         55 . Method according to  claim 8 , whereby the relief structure is applied to the surface of the balloon by taking up the balloon in a counter-pressure body provided with the relief structure.