Medtronic, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Jeffrey S Trinidad

Don H Tran

Glen L Lieber

Sharon Schwab

Morris H Deitermann

A spiral balloon perfusion catheter assembly having a retaining wire and method of making the balloon. Also, a retaining wire for such a catheter and method of forming the retaining wire. A typical spiral catheter balloon has a spiral configuration of lobes and channels mounted on a catheter extending beyond the balloon ends. A retaining wire formed from a shape memory alloy is configured to have a central region having a spaced spiral configuration conforming to the spiral balloon channel and end regions configured to have a contiguous spiral configuration conforming to the catheter diameter. When placed over a spiral balloon, the central spiral region prevents expansion of the channel when the balloon is inflated, while the end regions secure the retaining wire to the catheter. Preferred shape memory alloys comprise nickel and titanium. The retaining wire is made by heating the wire above the crystal phase change temperature of the alloy, shaping the spirals then cooling the product below the crystal phase change temperature. The spiral end regions may be unwound and placed over the catheter adjacent to the balloon with the wire in the central spiral region conforming to the balloon channel.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey S Trinidad