Patent ID: 6129737
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of angioplasty in which a stenosis in a blood vessel is dilated, comprising:providing a guidewire, and a dilatation catheter that is constructed for positioning in said blood vessel by sliding said catheter over said guidewire, said catheter having a flexible catheter body defining an axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and near the distal end, said catheter body carrying an angioplasty balloon formed of a nondistendable polymer, said catheter body having a length of about 75-150 cm and defining a first lumen and a second lumen, said first lumen extending through said balloon and sized to slideably receive said guidewire, and said second lumen extending from the proximal end and including a port open to the interior of the balloon for introducing inflation fluid to inflate said balloon,the balloon including a dilatation section, a proximal taper section, and a distal taper section,said dilatation section extending substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter when the balloon is in the inflated state end over a sufficient length for engaging and dilating the stenosis by forcing the stenosis open under dilatation pressure,said proximal taper section having a gradual proximal slope to the catheter for providing a gradual, atraumatic profile upon withdrawal of said catheter from the blood vessel after dilatation, andsaid distal taper section having an abrupt distal slope extending a short length compared to said proximal taper section,placing said catheter into said blood vessel with said balloon in the deflated state and wrapped about said catheter to present a small diameter profile,positioning said catheter by sliding said catheter over a guidewire so that said dilatation section of said balloon is adjacent said stenosis,inflating said balloon while the balloon is within the stenosis to engage said dilatation section with said stenosis and to dilate said senosis by radial force applied by said dilatation section,deflating said balloon, andwithdrawing said catheter body.