Patent ID: 7972299
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A balloon catheter comprising: a inflatable balloon comprising a balloon wall defining an interior volume, the balloon further comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a central portion disposed therebetween; a catheter comprising an elongated shaft extending along an axis between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion comprising a connector configured to engage an inflation device, the distal end portion fixedly connected to the proximal end of the balloon, the distal end portion comprising an aperture near the proximal end of the balloon, a lumen extending through the shaft and in fluid communication with the interior volume of the balloon via the aperture; a stiffening member extending distally from the distal end portion of the catheter and through the interior volume of the balloon, the stiffening member being engaged with the distal end of the balloon; and a deflation mechanism disposed at least partially about the stiffening member, the deflation mechanism configured to facilitate the flow of an inflation fluid through the interior volume of the balloon and towards the aperture, wherein an end cap is fixedly connected to the distal end of the balloon and the stiffening member is engaged with the end cap, the end cap comprising a sleeve extending partially therethrough, the sleeve being defined by an interior volume of the end cap, and further wherein the stiffening member is slidably engaged with the sleeve of the end cap such that axial movement of the distal end of the balloon relative to the proximal end of the balloon in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the shaft is not restrained by the stiffening member, and wherein the distal end of the stiffening member comprises a tapered portion that is disposed within a coil spring.