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:
Feb. 29, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1998
David J Zarbatany, Encinitas, CA (US);
Rafael Pintor, San Diego, CA (US);
Maurice Verbeek, Geleen, NL;
Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A dilation catheter having a balloon inflation shaft with an inflation lumen into which a stiffening wire extends and a guidewire shaft having a guide wire lumen adjacent to the balloon. The stiffening wire includes at least two stepped diameter reductions along its length to vary stiffness from a stiff proximal end providing improved pushability to a less stiff distal end providing improved trackability. A manifold at the inflation shaft proximal end includes a handle for adjusting the distance the stiffening wire extends into the inflation lumen to allow stiffness to be optimized. The handle includes a tubular flange frictionally engaging the manifold to prevent inadvertent handle movement. The balloon inflation shaft and guidewire shafts are bonded together in a manner producing an assembly having a circular cross section for improved connection to a circular balloon and improved catheter performance.