Patent ID: 6325779
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A balloon catheter for dilating vascular constrictions and for simultaneously introducing a permanently deformable stent into a vessel to be dilated in order to stabilize the vessel in the dilated condition, wherein a distal region of the catheter, which is intended to receive the stent, comprises: an inner tube that is surrounded by the crimped non-expanded stent; a balloon arranged between the stent and the inner tube; a pair of longitudinally spaced X-ray marking sleeves carried on the inner tube within the balloon such that the stent is there-between and comprised of an X-ray-opaque material; an outer tube disposed between the inner tube and the outer balloon and formed of a soft and elastic material as an intermediate layer, with the intermediate layer extending in the longitudinal direction to beyond the sleeves forming the X-ray markings, and together with the sleeves forming the X-ray markings forms an air-tight closure so that an air volume that remains between the inner tube and the outer tube forming the intermediate layer acts as an elastic air cushion which upon crimping of the stent onto the catheter forms a resistance means for controlled displacement of the balloon.