Patent ID: 6749583
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A balloon catheter assembly comprising:a catheter body having a lumen extending from a proximal end thereof through at least a portion of the length of the catheter body, the catheter body being provided with a fluid discharge aperture for discharging fluid from the lumen; a balloon secured to an exterior surface of the catheter body, the balloon being expandable between a relaxed state and an expanded state in response to a positive fluid pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of the lumen; the catheter body being formed with a balloon inflation aperture fluidly interconnecting the lumen and the interior of the balloon; and an autoregulation valve provided on one of the balloon and the catheter body, the valve being adapted to restrict the flow of fluid through the fluid discharge aperture at fluid pressure differentials lower than a predetermined fluid pressure differential, and to expand a fluid flowpath between the lumen and the fluid discharge aperture at pressure differential levels equal to or greater than the predetermined fluid pressure differential; wherein a proximal end of the balloon is secured to the exterior surface of the catheter body and the autoregulation valve comprises a member slidably mounted on a distal end portion of the catheter body and secured to the distal end of the balloon, the fluid discharge aperture being formed on the sliding member, the sliding member having a second lumen therein fluidly connected to the catheter lumen, the slidable member being adapted to slide in the distal direction relative to the catheter body in response to increases in the fluid pressure differential above the predetermined level, the fluid discharge aperture being so disposed on the slidable member that the aperture is closed to fluid communication with the catheter lumen when the balloon is in the relaxed state and open to fluid communication with the catheter lumen when a positive fluid pressure differential within the catheter lumen is sufficient to extend the slidable member a sufficient distance to expose the fluid discharge aperture to the catheter lumen.