Boston Scientific Corporation

Other

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

American National Can Company

Wang, James C.

James C Wang

Brian A Pederson, Sr

George T Roberts

John E Abele

Christopher A Rowland

Richard M DeMello

Charles B Warich

Thomas A Svatek

Albert Chin

James B Daigle

Douglas J Daniels

Robert E Reid

John F Hartnett

Yem Chin

Thomas T Tung

Roger L Kaas

Peter M Nicholas

George R Roberts

A foldable and restrainable cable for electrical and electronic devices. The cables are preformed with bends to allow the cable to be gathered together easier for bundling. The cable also has a restrainer section at one end to hold the cable together after it is gathered and bundled for storage.

Foldable and restrainable cables

A medical balloon for attachment to a catheter tube, and method of making the balloon. The balloon comprises a plurality of co-extruded and coextensive layers of different polymeric materials (A,B) at least one of which is a base structural layer (B) and the other of which (A) is formed of polyethylene and copolymers thereof or of SELAR. The base structural layer is thicker than the other layer.

Co-extruded medical balloon

Manufacturing variable and/or singular property products, such as a tubing, in a tip-and-die assembly, where intermittent acting material injectors are used. Two or more injectors take turns making material shots to maintain a continuous material stream. A singular flow controller regulates the flow for all material streams coming from the injectors.

Tubular product

A method of forming a balloon for medical purposes comprising co-extruding in a tubular shape a base structural layer of a member selected from the group consisting oft polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters and copolymers thereof and a heat sealable layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and copolymers thereof. The tubular member is then biaxially oriented by inflating the tube with a gas to a predetermined central diameter greater then the initial diameter of the tube and simultaneously heating the inflated tube to a temperature sufficient to biaxially orient the base structural layer. The member is then cooled the inflated tubular member and then elevated in temperature for a second time to the biaxially orienting temperature. The twice-heated tube is allowed to cool and the gas is withdrawn whereby the tubular member will assume a generally tubular shape and the main structural layer will remain biaxially orientated and the heat sealable layer will not be biaxially orientated.

Method of forming a co-extruded balloon for medical purposes

The present invention relates to an elongated, foldable cable for the communication of electrical power from a source to an electrically powered device. The cable has an elongated electrical conductor, a first insulating material arranged about a first linear segment of the elongated electrical conductor and a second insulating material arranged about a second linear segment of the elongated electrical conductor. The first and second insulating materials are of different flexibility from one another whereby to enable folding on the materials of greater flexibility.

Foldable electric cord arrangement and manufacture

Implements, particularly medical instruments, formed at least in part of elongated polymer members, exhibit high torque fidelity after processing with tension, heat, and twisting. The processing orients the polymer in generally helical paths so that torque imposed at the proximal end can be transmitted to the distal end without substantial whipping, even if the implement follows a long and tortuous pathway. Applications include medical guidewires, catheters, and driveshafts.

Polymeric implements for torque transmission

A medical device, such as a catheter in which the catheter has a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively soft distal section joined by a relatively short transition section in which the materials of the proximal and distal sections are gradually combined in the transition section to form a continuous unbroken tube without abrupt joints. The relatively soft distal section can be provided with a balloon, and the catheter can be provided with multiple passageways. In addition, the catheters can be provided with braiding to provide the finished product with more torqueability and kink resistance.

Medical catheter

A method of forming a balloon for medical purposes including co-extruding in a tubular shape a base structural layer of polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters and copolymers thereof and a heat sealable layer of polyethylene and copolymers thereof. The tubular member is then biaxially oriented by inflating the tube with a gas to a predetermined central diameter greater then the initial diameter of the tube and simultaneously heating the inflated tube to a temperature sufficient to biaxially orient the base structural layer. The member is then cooled the inflated tubular member and then elevated in temperature for a second time to the biaxially orienting temperature. The twice-heated tube is allowed to cool and the gas is withdrawn whereby the tubular member will assume a generally tubular shape and the main structural layer will remain biaxially orientated and the heat sealable layer will not be biaxially orientated.

A catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (26) having at least one lumen (24) for delivery of a fluid inflation media and a double balloon (12) including an array (20) of a plurality of inflatable secondary chambers (22) radially disposed in a cylindrical array around an inflatable primary chamber (16). Each of the secondary chambers (22) shares a common wall (38) with adjacent secondary chambers (22) and a common wall (14) with the primary chamber (16). The secondary chambers (22) are inflated by an array of channels (32) which are separated from each other by webs (40). One or more of the secondary chambers (22) may be in communication with a pressure transducer for measurement of the resistance of, e.g., a stenosis to dilation by the balloon (12). Alternately, a triple balloon (60) has inner secondary chambers (22a) and outer secondary chambers (22b). Also alternately, one or more of the secondary chambers (22) may be adapted to dispense medication. A method for treating a constricted bodily conduit using the catheter is also disclosed.

Dilation catheter and method of treatment therewith

A method for making differential stiffness tubing for medical products, such as catheters. The method produces a tubing that has a stiff section and a flexible section joined by a relatively short transition section in which the materials of the stiff and flexible sections are wedged into each other in a smooth gradual manner to produce an inseparable bond between the materials without abrupt joints. The method also employs a resin modulating system that minimizes the length of the transition section by minimizing the volumes in all flow channels of the co-extrusion head used to produce the tubing.

Method for making tubing

Differential stiffness tubing for medical products, such as catheters, and a method and apparatus for making the tubing. The tubing has a stiff section and a flexible section joined by a relatively short transition section in which the materials of the stiff and flexible sections are wedged into each other in a smooth gradual manner to produce an inseparable bond between the materials without abrupt joints. The tubing is made using a resin modulating system and a unique co-extrusion head that minimize the length of the transition section by minimizing the volumes in all flow channels of the head.

Tubing

A slip-layered balloon catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (21) having at least one lumen (26) for delivery of a fluid inflation media and a slip-layered balloon (12) made up of a plurality of layers with a low-friction substance between the layers. The low-friction substance causes the layers to slide readily relative to one another, softening the balloon while maintaining its strength. Optionally, the balloon includes a plurality of slip-layered segments radially disposed about the balloon wall, and separated by lengthwise ridges joining the layers of each segment together. Also optionally, an elastic sleeve surrounds the balloon wall to improve refoldability of the balloon.

Slip-layered catheter balloon

A perfusion catheter for insertion into a body conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (5) having at least two lumens for delivery of fluid inflation medias and an array (1) formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable balloons (3) disposed in a cylindrical array around the shaft (5), each of the balloons (3) sharing a common wall (3a) with adjacent balloons (3). The balloons (3) are inflated by an array (1) of channels (11) and separated from each other by a web (19). There is at least one opening (17) between two adjacent channels (11) to allow the flow of fluids into the array (1). An internal chamber (31) is formed inside the array (1) by the movement of a wall (30) over the axis of the catheter whereby to enable a substantial increase of inflation forces against the body conduit in which the catheter is disposed.

Perfusion catheter having a cylindrical array of balloons

An infusion catheter including an elongated catheter body, and an infusion section at its distal end for delivery of therapeutic fluid to bodily passages. The infusion section includes an outer tube and an inner tube concentric with the outer tube, each tube having a multiplicity of ports therethrough. The inner tube delimits a central, fluid delivery lumen. The inner tube is uniformly spaced apart from the outer tube to provide an annular passageway, the radial depth of the passageway being sufficient to permit fluid flow therewithin. Each of the ports through the outer tube provides fluid communication between the annular passageway and the exterior of the catheter, while each of the ports through the inner tube provides fluid communication between the central lumen and the annular passageway. Thus, therapeutic fluid can flow from the central lumen through the annular passageway to the catheter exterior. The catheter provides a uniform average flow rate of therapeutic fluid along the length of the infusion section by (a) providing a higher ratio of inner tube ports to outer tube ports in the distal portion than in the proximal portion of the infusion section, and/or (b) positioning the inner tube ports and outer tube ports relative to one another so that the average fluid flow distance in the annular passageway between the inner tube ports and the outer tube ports is smaller in the distal portion than in the proximal portion of the infusion section.

Growing community of inventors

Norton, MA, United States of America

James C Wang