Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

David W Lodin

Matthew M Burns

Scott Raymond Smith

Shahn S Sage

Douglas P Killion

Bruce A Behymer

Catheter connectors, systems, and methods of use in which a catheter is attached to a connector such that the catheter is retained on the connector by inward radial compression between an outer surface of a hollow pin located within the catheter and a collet fitted over the portion of the catheter containing the pin. The collet may be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position by axial displacement of the collet along a longitudinal axis of the connector.

Catheter connectors and systems, and methods of using same

A balloon dilation catheter which has a long shaft and an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end. The shaft includes a guide wire lumen which has an inner diameter that is substantially larger than the guide wire diameter used in the procedure. An atraumatic tip is connected to the distal end of the inflatable balloon and includes an aperture which the guide wire passes through. The diameter of the aperture remains constant but is substantially less than the inner diameter of the guide wire lumen and matches the maximum diameter of the guide wire used in the procedure. The atraumatic tip minimizes the potential for vascular damage and eliminates the need to change catheters or guide wires and thus reduces the time and cost of the PTA procedure. The tip also includes holes which allow for dye injection and pressure measurement while the guide wire extends through the aperture. Alternatively, the aperture may be compliant such that it can expand or contract to accommodate guide wires of different diameters. The compliant tip minimizes the circumferencial ledge between the distal end of the catheter and the guide wire and thereby minimizes the potential for vascular damage.

Intravascular dilation catheter

An 'innerless' balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior. A valve member is responsive to the pressure in the balloon interior for blocking fluid flow through the lumen extension during continuing inflation and at least the initial deflation of the balloon.

Innerless dilatation balloon catheter

A balloon catheter having an outer shaft and an inner shaft in which the inner shaft is constructed to protect itself over its entire length and especially in its most vulnerable areas without adversely effecting its flexibility, trackability, or pushability or the catheter's deflation time. The inner shaft can be reinforced to prevent it from collapsing or breaking throughout its length and also improving the deflation time of the balloon.

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

David W Lodin