Patent ID: 11878133
Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A method for purging a balloon catheter of air, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting an inflation fluid into a balloon and an inflation lumen of a balloon catheter, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the balloon;
positioning the balloon catheter in an inverted orientation with a distal end thereof disposed below a proximal end thereof, wherein the distal end of the balloon catheter includes the balloon;
positioning a vibration source in direct contact with an outer surface of the balloon of the balloon catheter and/or an outer surface of an outer shaft of the balloon catheter;
applying a vacuum on the inflation lumen of the balloon catheter;
vibrating the balloon catheter with the vibration source while applying the vacuum on the inflation lumen of the balloon catheter to cause any air within the balloon of the balloon catheter and any air within the inflation lumen of the balloon catheter to move upwards through the inflation fluid towards the proximal end of the balloon catheter; and
moving the vibration source along the outer surface of the balloon catheter while vibrating the balloon catheter, wherein the direct contact between the outer surface of the balloon catheter and the vibration source is maintained during the step of moving the vibration source.