Balloon catheter with fortified proximal infusion outlet port, and manufacturing thereof

Abstract

Infusion balloon catheter with fortified proximal infusion outlet port, and manufacturing thereof. Infusion balloon catheter includes: inflatable balloon member; shaft having distal end attached to balloon member, and shaft wall enclosing: first lumen providing passage to balloon inflation fluid, and second lumen providing passage to infusion fluid and guidewire; and bending-resistant insert member housed in second lumen and located proximally to balloon member, insert member is affixed to, and conforms to shape of, shaft inner wall surface, and includes one or more opening(s). Shaft wall has infusion outlet port located along, and providing opening to, second lumen proximally to balloon member. Insert opening(s) is/are in direct fluid communication with infusion outlet port whose cross-sectional area is larger than that of infusion inlet opening. Bending-resistant insert member provides fortifying structural support to shaft wall portion surrounding infusion outlet port. Applicable to medical procedures involving injection of imaging contrast material or/and drugs.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An infusion balloon catheter comprising:
 an inflatable balloon member;   a shaft having a distal end portion coupled to the inflatable balloon member, the shaft defining:
 a first lumen in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon member and configured to pass an inflation fluid to the inflatable balloon member; 
 a second lumen configured to pass an infusion fluid; and 
 an infusion outlet opening in fluid communication with the second lumen; and 
   a bending-resistant insert member securely coupled within the second lumen, the bending-resistant insert member defining at least one opening arranged with the infusion outlet opening to direct a flow of the infusion fluid from the shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the bending-resistant insert member includes a plurality of longitudinally distributed openings. 
     
     
         4 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the bending-resistant insert member includes a plurality of openings arranged in a rectangular pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is at least one of a U-shaped opening, an H-shaped opening, or a C-shaped opening. 
     
     
         6 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the shaft includes a proximal slide-prevention element and a distal slide-prevention element disposed within the second lumen disposed on an inner surface of the shaft and configured to secure the bending-resistant insert member. 
     
     
         7 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 6 , wherein the bending-resistant insert member conforms to the inner surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an inner tube coupled to a distal end portion of the second lumen.   
     
     
         9 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner tube forms at least a portion of the distal slide-prevention element. 
     
     
         10 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the shaft further includes:
 an infusion inlet opening in fluid communication with the second lumen.   
     
     
         11 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 10 , wherein the infusion outlet opening has a cross-sectional area that is equal to or greater than a cross-sectional area of the infusion inlet opening. 
     
     
         12 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein the second lumen is configured to pass a guidewire therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . An infusion balloon catheter comprising:
 an inflatable balloon member;   a shaft having a distal end portion coupled to the inflatable balloon member, the shaft defining:
 a first lumen in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon member and configured to pass an inflation fluid to the inflatable balloon member; 
 a second lumen configured to pass an infusion fluid and a guidewire therethrough; and 
 an infusion outlet opening and an infusion inlet opening in fluid communication with the second lumen; and 
   a bending-resistant insert member securely coupled within the second lumen, the bending-resistant insert member defines at least one opening arranged with the infusion outlet opening to direct a flow of the infusion fluid from the shaft.   
     
     
         14 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an inflation fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the first lumen;   a guidewire proximal port in communication with the second lumen; and   an infusion inlet port in fluid communication with the infusion inlet opening.   
     
     
         15 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an inner tube coupled to a distal end portion of the second lumen.   
     
     
         16 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a guidewire distal port in communication with the second lumen and disposed at a distal end of the inner tube.   
     
     
         17 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , wherein the infusion outlet opening and the bending-resistant insert member are disposed proximally of the inflatable balloon member. 
     
     
         18 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , wherein the bending-resistant insert member includes a plurality of longitudinally distributed openings. 
     
     
         19 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , wherein the bending-resistant insert member includes a plurality of openings arranged in a rectangular pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The infusion balloon catheter according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one opening is at least one of a U-shaped opening, an H-shaped opening, or a C-shaped opening.