Patent ID: 7171275
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A deflectable, high torque, balloon catheter comprising: a flexible catheter shaft having a distal shaft section, a proximal shaft section and a middle shaft section, wherein each shaft section has a distal end and a proximal end, said flexible catheter shaft having at least one lumen extending between the distal end of the distal shaft section and the proximal end of the proximal shaft section; a handle secured at the proximal end of the proximal shaft section; a balloon attached at the distal shaft section; and at least one shaft section comprising a deflectable, high torque transmission assembly for transmitting bending and torque properties along said at least one shaft section, said deflectable, high torque transmission assembly comprising a slit tubular element that has a plurality of slits on said slit tubular element, wherein arrangement of said plurality of slits with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shaft section is selected from the group consisting of an angled slit, and a combination of a perpendicular slit and an angled slit, wherein said plurality of slits with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shaft section are arranged in a plurality of rows parallel and staggered with respect to each other.