The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 14, 1994
John R Fagan, Pepperell, MA (US);
Jeffrey M Kling, Tewksbury, MA (US);
Michael D Barbere, Dunstable, MA (US);
C. R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Devices have been made which are balloon catheters, preferably PTCA devices, and which are capable of selectively directing inflation forces against the thicker part of an eccentric arterial obstruction or an off-center plaque deposit. In a first embodiment, a balloon catheter is formed from at least two balloons positioned side-by-side to each other. One balloon is larger in diameter than the other balloon(s). The larger diameter balloon acts as a cushion to the thinner part of a lesion. The small balloon(s) focuses greater inflation force against the thicker part of the lesion. In a second embodiment, a unitary balloon catheter has a plurality of independently inflatable lobes. Inflation forces may be selectively directed depending on which lumen of the balloon catheter is pressurized. Additionally, different lumens can be used for other purposes including an auto-perfusion catheter and monorail applications. The new devices provide a method of opening a constricted region in the cardiovascular system of a patient.