Dilatation catheter with stiffening wire anchored in the vicinity of the ...

United States Patent

[19]

Fitzmaurice et al.

US005823995A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,823,995 Oct. 20, 1998

[54] DILATATION CATHETER WITH

STIFFENING WIRE ANCHORED IN THE
VICINITY OF THE GUIDE WIRE PORT

[75] Inventors: Thomas K. Fitzmaurice; Patrick J. E.

Duane, both of Galway, Ireland;
Denyse M. Collins, Derry, N.H.

[73] Assignee: Bard Connaught, Dublin, Ireland

[21] Appl. No.: 387,906

[22] PCT Filed: Aug. 24, 1993

[86] PCT No.: PCT/US93/07943

§ 371 Date: Jun. 29, 1995

§ 102(e) Date: Jun. 29, 1995 [87] PCT Pub. No.: WO94/04216

PCT Pub. Date: Mar. 3, 1994

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 934,948, Aug. 25, 1992, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI. A61M 29/00

[52] U.S. CI 604/96; 604/104; 604/264;

606/192

[58] Field of Search 604/96, 102, 103,

604/104, 264, 280, 281, 282, 283; 606/192, 194; 128/656-8, 772

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,775,371 10/1988 Mueller .

A balloon dilatation catheter comprising an elongated tubular shaft and an inner tube defining inflation and guide wire lumens. A dilatation balloon is mounted on the distal end of the tubular shaft and communicates with the inflation lumen. The guide wire lumen extends through the balloon. A stiffening wire is positioned within the tubular shaft and has a proximal end secured in the proximal portion of the catheter. The distal end of the stiffening wire is anchored within the inner tube in an area adjacent the guide wire entrance port. The stiffening wire maximizes strength to the proximal portion of the catheter while maintaining flexibility in the distal end of the catheter as well as the balloon.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets