Balloon catheter with elastic segment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catheter comprising an outer tube; an inner tube; and a balloon fixed at its proximal sleeve to the outer tube and at its distal sleeve to the inner tube, wherein the inner tube comprises an elastic segment.

1 . A catheter comprising:
 an outer tube;   an inner tube; and   a balloon fixed at its proximal sleeve to the outer tube and at its distal sleeve to the inner tube,   the inner tube comprising an elastic segment.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastic segment is positioned within the balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment is positioned under the proximal sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment is positioned proximal of the proximal sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment is an elastic tube integrated into the inner tube, the elastic tube being formed of a material having a lower e-modulus than the materials the balloon and the inner tube are formed of. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment includes an elastic inner body and a surrounding sleeve abutting at one end to a stop portion of the elastic inner body. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment includes an elastic member and a coil surrounding the inner elastic element. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment includes an elastic member and a wire arrangement with a wire having a stop member, the wire being fixed to the inner tube, said stop member co-operating with at least one marker, of the inner tube. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment comprises an elastic member and at least one tube being positioned on the elastic inner element. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment comprises an elastic member and a tube being positioned on the elastic inner element said tube being positioned between markers, said markers, being positioned on the inner tube. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the elastic segment is treated with thermal transfer annealing. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic segment further comprises a elastic member and a telescopic tube. 
     
     
         13 . An elastic segment for a catheter comprising an outer tube; an inner tube; and a balloon fixed at its proximal sleeve to the outer tube and at its distal sleeve to the inner tube, wherein the elastic segment is part of the inner tube. 
     
     
         14 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment is positioned within the balloon. 
     
     
         15 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment is positioned under the proximal sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment is positioned proximal of the proximal sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment is an elastic tube integrated into the inner tube, the elastic tube being formed of a material having a lower e-modulus than the materials the balloon and the inner tube are formed of. 
     
     
         18 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment includes an elastic inner body and a surrounding sleeve abutting at one end to a stop portion of the elastic inner body. 
     
     
         19 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment includes an elastic member and a coil surrounding the inner elastic element. 
     
     
         20 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein said elastic segment includes an elastic member and a wire arrangement with a wire having a stop member, the wire being fixed to the inner tube, said stop member co-operating with at least one marker, of the inner tube. 
     
     
         21 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein the elastic segment comprises an elastic member and a tube being positioned on the elastic inner element. 
     
     
         22 . The elastic segment according to  claim 13 , wherein the elastic segment comprises an elastic member and a tube being positioned on the elastic inner element said tube being positioned between markers, said markers being positioned on the inner tube. 
     
     
         23 . The elastic shaft segment according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a part of the elastic segment is treated with thermal transfer annealing. 
     
     
         24 . The elastic shaft segment according to  claim 13 , comprising an elastic member and a telescopic tube. 
     
     
         25 . A catheter comprising:
 an inflatable balloon body having:
 a proximal fixing portion fixed to a proximal end of a catheter shaft, and 
 a distal fixing portion fixed to a distal end of the catheter shaft; 
   said catheter shaft including:
 an inflation lumen connected to the interior of said balloon body and 
 a guide wire lumen including a proximal tube portion ending at least approximately at the proximal fixing portion and an intermediate tube portion extending from the proximal fixing portion to the distal fixing portion through the interior of the balloon body, and a tip portion extending at least to the distal fixing portion, characterized in 
   that a hollow marker shaft is provided having a proximal end with an outer circumferential wall and a distal end with an outer circumferential wall;   that the outer circumferential wall of the proximal end is fixed to an inner wall portion of said proximal tube portion;   that the outer circumferential wall of the distal end is fixed to an inner wall portion of the distal fixing portion; and   that the intermediate tube portion and the tip portion are combined to a separate shaft member loosely fitted into said hollow marker shaft and having a proximal end being fixed to a proximal inner wall portion of said marker shaft.