Patent ID: 11957855
Assignee: NEURAVI LIMITED
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 3:
4. A method for using a balloon guide catheter; wherein the balloon guide catheter has a catheter shaft having an outer surface, a proximal end, and an opposite distal end; the catheter shaft having an inner surface forming a main lumen defined therein extending axially therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end; the main lumen being configured to receive a guidewire therein; the catheter shaft between the inner and outer surfaces having an arc shape inflation lumen defined axially therein arranged semi-encircling the main lumen; the catheter shaft having an inlet vent defined in the outer surface radially outward from the inner surface of the catheter shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and the catheter shaft having a first exhaust vent disposed longitudinally through a distal terminating end of the inflation lumen coinciding with a distal terminating end of the main lumen; the balloon guide catheter further including a first porous membrane disposed at the first exhaust vent within the distal terminating end of the inflation lumen; the first porous membrane having a plurality of holes defined therein sized to permit only gas to pass therethrough; and the balloon guide catheter also including an expandable balloon secured about the outer surface of the catheter shaft proximate the distal end of the catheter shaft and coinciding with the inlet vent; the method comprising the steps of:
prior to introduction of the balloon guide catheter into a target vessel, prepping the balloon guide catheter by positively venting residual air distally from the inflation lumen and the expandable balloon via the first exhaust vent.