Dilation catheter with eccentric balloon

Abstract

This invention relates to a balloon dilatation catheter. The balloon dilatation catheter comprises a first, inflation lumen extending therethrough and having distal and proximal ends, the distal end of the first lumen opening into and being in fluid communication with the interior of an inflatable dilatation balloon having distal and proximal ends, and a second lumen extending coextensively with and exterior to the dilatation balloon.

I claim: 
     
       1. A balloon dilatation catheter which comprises: a catheter shaft defining a first, inflation lumen and a second lumen, each of said first and second lumens having proximal and distal ends, and   an inflatable dilatation balloon having proximal and distal ends,   wherein the distal end of said first lumen opens into and is in fluid communication with the interior of the dilatation balloon and the second lumen extends longitudinally with the first lumen, the proximal end of the second lumen being adjacent to the proximal end of the first lumen, the distal end of the second lumen being open and distal to the distal end of the first lumen, the section of the second lumen distal to the proximal end of the dilatation balloon being exterior to the dilatation balloon, the distal end of the second lumen being open and distal to the distal end of the dilatation balloon, and the second lumen being sufficiently linear to allow the catheter to be slidingly advanced over a guidewire.   
     
     
       2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first inflation lumen is a metal hypotube. 
     
     
       3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a radiopaque marker is located within the second lumen at a point between the proximal and distal ends of the balloon. 
     
     
       4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the radiopaque marker has a triangular shape. 
     
     
       5. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the radiopaque marker has an outwardly extending sharp edge opposite the balloon. 
     
     
       6. A balloon dilatation catheter system which comprises one or more catheters of claim 1 and a guidewire. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6, wherein each catheter has a dilatation balloon of varying size. 
     
     
       8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the distal section of the second lumen has an opening located between the proximal and distal ends of the balloon. 
     
     
       9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein a cutting instrument may be passed within the second lumen and positioned at the opening in the second lumen that is located between the proximal and distal ends of the balloon. 
     
     
       10. The catheter of claim 1, comprising one or more additional lumens. 
     
     
       11. The balloon dilatation catheter of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second lumen is smaller than the diameter of the inflated dilatation balloon. 
     
     
       12. The balloon dilatation catheter of claim 1, wherein the balloon is bonded axially along its entire length to the second lumen. 
     
     
       13. The balloon dilatation catheter of claim 1, wherein the balloon and the second lumen are made from one piece. 
     
     
       14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a radiopaque marker is located within the second lumen at a point between the proximal and distal ends of the balloon. 
     
     
       15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker has a triangular shape. 
     
     
       16. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker has an outwardly extending sharp edge opposite the balloon. 
     
     
       17. A balloon dilatation catheter system which comprises one or more catheters of claim 1 and a guidewire. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 17, wherein each catheter has a dilatation balloon of varying size. 
     
     
       19. A balloon dilatation catheter which comprises: a catheter shaft defining a first, inflation lumen and a second lumen, each of said first and second lumens having proximal and distal ends, and   an inflatable dilatation balloon having proximal and distal ends,   wherein the distal end of the first lumen opens into and is in fluid communication with the interior of the dilatation balloon, the proximal end of the second lumen being open and being located substantially distal to the proximal end of the first lumen, the section of the second lumen distal to the proximal end of the dilatation balloon being exterior to the dilatation balloon, the distal end of the second lumen being open and distal to the distal end of the dilatation balloon, and the second lumen being sufficiently linear to allow the catheter to be slidingly advanced over a guidewire.   
     
     
       20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the diameter of the second lumen is smaller than the diameter of the inflated dilatation balloon. 
     
     
       21. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the balloon is bonded axially along its entire length to the second lumen. 
     
     
       22. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the balloon and the second lumen are made from one piece. 
     
     
       23. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the first inflation lumen is a metal hypotube. 
     
     
       24. The catheter of claim 19, wherein a radiopaque marker is located within the second lumen at a point between the proximal and distal ends of the balloon. 
     
     
       25. The catheter of claim 24, wherein the radiopaque marker has a triangular shape. 
     
     
       26. The catheter of claim 24, wherein the radiopaque marker has an outwardly extending sharp edge opposite the balloon. 
     
     
       27. A balloon dilatation catheter system which comprises one or more catheters of claim 19 and a guidewire. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 27, wherein each catheter has a dilatation balloon of varying size. 
     
     
       29. A balloon dilatation catheter which comprises a first, inflation lumen extending therethrough and having distal and proximal ends, the distal end of said first lumen opening into and being in fluid communication with the interior of an inflatable dilatation balloon having distal and proximal ends, and   a second lumen extending coextensively with the first lumen, having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the second lumen is adjacent to the proximal end of the first lumen, the distal end of the second lumen is open and distal to the distal end of the balloon, and wherein the distal section of the second lumen is exterior to the balloon and has an opening proximal, adjacent, or distal to the proximal end of the dilatation balloon, and the section of the second lumen distal to the opening is enlarged as compared to the proximal section of the second lumen.   
     
     
       30. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the proximal, unenlarged section of the second lumen contains a pushing wire. 
     
     
       31. The catheter of claim 30, wherein the pushing wire has proximal and distal ends and said distal end is positioned at or near the opening of the second lumen. 
     
     
       32. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the enlarged portion of the second lumen comprises lubricious material. 
     
     
       33. The catheter of claim 32, wherein the lubricious material is in the form of tubing within the enlarged section. 
     
     
       34. The catheter of claim 33, wherein the distal end of the pushing wire is held in position by the lubricious tubing and the second lumen wall. 
     
     
       35. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the portion of the second lumen proximal to the opening has been heat shrunk around the pushing wire. 
     
     
       36. The catheter of claim 29, which comprises at least one additional coextensive lumen having open proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
       37. The catheter of claim 36, wherein there is one additional lumen. 
     
     
       38. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the second lumen is capable of receiving a guidewire in a sliding fit. 
     
     
       39. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the second lumen comprises lubricious material. 
     
     
       40. The catheter of claim 39, wherein the lubricious material is in the form of tubing within the second lumen. 
     
     
       41. The catheter of claim 38 which comprises at least one additional coextensive lumen having open proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
       42. The catheter of claim 41, wherein there is one additional lumen. 
     
     
       43. A balloon dilatation catheter system which comprises one or more catheters of claim 29 and a guidewire. 
     
     
       44. The system of claim 43, wherein each catheter has a dilatation balloon of varying size.