Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Boris Warnack

Randolf Von Oepen

Travis Richard Yribarren

Lorcan James Coffey

Thomas Rieth

Arik Zucker

Judith Hartwig

Silke Pschibl

A balloon catheter comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An inflatable member is disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The inflatable member has an inner inflatable member and an outer inflatable member disposed around the inner inflatable member. The inflatable members have different compliant properties.

Balloon catheter

A dilatation balloon is fabricated according to a process that forms cavities and indentations in the balloon and/or catheter sections. A length of tubing is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser or another type of laser or mechanical material removal tool is used to remove the polymeric material, virtually without thermal effects. Cavities in the sleeve sections of the balloon are defined and if desired, indentations in the cone sections are defined. Material removal, particularly near the balloon sleeves enables a thinner, more flexible bonding area between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Further, the indentations along the cone sections enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile. Rigidity near the sleeves is reduced for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways.

Method of reducing rigidity of angioplasty balloon sections

The present invention relates generally to dilatation balloon catheters and systems used for expansion against an obstruction within a body vessel or channel, or to deliver devices such as, but not limited to, stents and therapeutic agents to sites within vascular or tubular channel systems of the body.

Method with balloon catheter having first and second inflatable elements

A catheter for delivering a stent includes an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall defining a lumen; an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and defining a lumen for a guidewire, wherein a portion of a length of the inner tube is wrapped around with a spiral-shaped wire; a balloon sealingly connected to the inner tube and the outer tube adjacent the distal ends thereof, the balloon defining an interior volume and having an exterior surface; and a marker made from a wire of a highly radiopaque and ductile material, wherein the wire is wrapped in a plurality of at least partially overlapping layers such that the marker is flexible along the length of the catheter.

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Rangendingen, Germany

Boris Warnack