Echogenic balloon dilation catheter and balloon thereof

Abstract

An echogenic balloon dilation catheter and a balloon thereof. The balloon includes a balloon body, a balloon cone at each side of the balloon body, and a balloon tip extending from the balloon cone and fixed to the catheter, the balloon body and the balloon cone being formed of a plurality of polymer layers in a radial direction of the balloon. The balloon may be of enhanced echogenicity using a variety of disclosed techniques.

1 . A balloon for a dilatation catheter, comprising, along an axial direction of the balloon:
 a balloon body,   a balloon cone at each side of the balloon body; and   a balloon tip extending from the balloon cone and fixed to the dilatation catheter,   wherein the balloon body and the balloon cone are formed of a plurality of polymer layers in a radial direction of the balloon,   wherein the balloon tip comprises metal; and   wherein a plurality of notches are formed on the metal balloon tip.   
     
     
         2 . The balloon according to  claim 1 , wherein the balloon tip is made entirely of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The balloon according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon body includes printed scale marks capable of reflecting ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
         4 . The balloon according to  claim 3 , wherein a first scale mark and scale marks at an interval therefrom are different from other scale marks in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The balloon according to  claim 4 , wherein a starting position of the scale marks starts at a distal end of the balloon or at a distance from the balloon tip. 
     
     
         6 . A balloon for a dilatation catheter, comprising, along an axial direction of the balloon:
 a balloon body,   a balloon cone at each side of the balloon body; and   a balloon tip extending from the balloon cone and fixed to the dilatation catheter,   wherein the balloon body and the balloon cone are formed of a plurality of polymer layers in a radial direction of the balloon,   wherein the balloon tip comprises metal; and   wherein the balloon tip, balloon body, and balloon cones are all formed of multiple polymer layers in the radial direction of the balloon, and the balloon tip is provided with a plurality of metal cuffs spaced apart in the axial direction and extending in a circumferential direction.   
     
     
         7 . The balloon according to  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon body includes printed scale marks capable of reflecting ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
         8 . The balloon according to  claim 7 , wherein a first scale mark and scale marks at an interval therefrom are different from other scale marks in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The balloon according to  claim 8 , wherein a starting position of the scale marks starts at a distal end of the balloon or at a distance from the balloon tip. 
     
     
         10 . A balloon for a dilatation catheter, comprising, along an axial direction of the balloon:
 a balloon body,   a balloon cone at each side of the balloon body; and   a balloon tip extending from the balloon cone and fixed to the dilatation catheter,   wherein the balloon body and the balloon cone are formed of a plurality of polymer layers in a radial direction of the balloon,   wherein the balloon tip comprises metal; and   wherein a surface of the balloon tip is patterned to form a rectangular array, a triangular array, a hemispherical array, a diamond array, a cylindrical array, or a plurality of parallel grooves extending in a circumferential direction.   
     
     
         11 . The balloon according to  claim 10 , wherein the patterned surface of the balloon tip is covered with a heat-shrinkable polymer coating. 
     
     
         12 . The balloon according to  claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon body includes printed scale marks capable of reflecting ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
         13 . The balloon according to  claim 12 , wherein a first scale mark and scale marks at an interval therefrom are different from other scale marks in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The balloon according to  claim 13 , wherein a starting position of the scale marks starts at a distal end of the balloon or at a distance from the balloon tip.