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.

1 . A balloon catheter comprising:
 a catheter body;   a balloon connected to the catheter body having:
 a stent balloon section; 
 a groove balloon section; 
 and 
 a masked balloon section; 
   and   a stent,   
       wherein
 the balloon is configured to have a delivery configuration in which the balloon is in a folded state and a stent-deployment configuration in which the balloon is in an inflated state, 
 and 
 in the delivery configuration, the balloon displays wire indentations on the groove balloon section. 
 
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein in the stent-deployment configuration, the wire indentations disappear. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the masked balloon section is free of wire indentations. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 3  wherein a relief structure reduces a balloon profile. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 3  wherein wire indentations create a relief structure. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 5  wherein a relief structure reduces a balloon profile. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 6  further comprising a pressure sleeve disposed over the stent. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7  further comprising a masking material disposed over stent ends. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 7  wherein the relief structure opposes stent movement. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the masked balloon section is free of wire indentations. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 10  wherein wire indentations create a relief structure. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein wire indentations create a relief structure. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the relief structure opposes stent movement. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein wire indentations create a relief structure. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 14  wherein a relief structure reduces a balloon profile. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 15  wherein the relief structure opposes stent movement. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the masked balloon section is free of wire indentations and wire indentations create a relief structure. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 3  wherein a relief structure reduces a balloon profile. 
     
     
         19 . A balloon catheter comprising:
 a catheter body;   a balloon connected to the catheter body having:
 a stent balloon section; 
 a groove balloon section comprising a wire indentation wherein the wire indentation creates a relief structure and the relief structure reduces a balloon profile; 
 and 
 a masked balloon section free of wire indentations wherein the relief structure opposes stent movement; 
   and   a stent disposed over the stent balloon section,   
       wherein
 the balloon is configured to have a delivery configuration in which the balloon is in a folded state, 
 the balloon is configured to have a stent-deployment configuration in which the balloon is in an inflated state, 
 in the delivery configuration, the balloon displays wire indentations on the groove balloon section, 
 and 
 in the stent-deployment configuration, the wire indentations disappear.