Abstract: A balloon catheter which has an elongate shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end and a manifold connected to its proximal end. The manifold may be fixedly or removably attached to the shaft and includes a barrel with a plunger movably disposed inside it. The manifold may be held with one hand and the plunger may be actuated with one finger or thumb on the same hand. The barrel may have an internal volume of less than 5 cc and an internal diameter of less than 0.25 inches. The catheter also has a prep port which may be connected at or near the proximal end of the catheter. The prep port facilitates prepping of the catheter system. A seal (e.g. a releasable cap or a valve) may be connected to the prep port for sealing off the prep port during use. A pressure transducer may be mounted to the catheter (e.g. on the shaft, the manifold, the prep port, or the seal) to permit measurement of the pressure within the inflation lumen and the balloon.

Abstract: A sensor coil is located on guidewire or perfusion catheter and introduced into the body. First the sensor coil is isolated from blood flow and used to make a set of static measurements. Next the sensor coil is heated in the presence of blood flow and a set of dynamic measurements are made which reflect the blood flow past the sensor coil.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter is disclosed which includes a proximal hypotube shaft segment, a distal polymer shaft segment, a distally-mounted inflatable balloon segment, and a hollow tubular member having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the hypotube shaft segment such that the lumen of the hollow tubular member is in communication with the exterior of the balloon catheter and the distal end of the hollow tubular member is connected to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A medical system is disclosed which includes an over-the-wire type balloon catheter and a guide wire wherein the catheter includes a polymer outer tube, and an inner tube having a metallic proximal portion and a polymer distal portion. An inflatable balloon is connected to the distal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube. The guide wire may be removed from and inserted into the guide wire lumen at either end of the catheter. The catheter may further include a transition member traversing the junction between the proximal and distal portions of the inner tube. The transition member may be in the form of a wire, a coil or a tube, and may be made of cold drawn stainless steel or a superelastic alloy. The metallic proximal portion of the inner tube may have a wall thickness greater than or equal to 0.0020 inches and an outside diameter less than or equal to 0.0255 inches. The catheter may also include a radiopaque marker band swaged onto the inner tube.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon catheter capable of creating perfusion passages during balloon inflation is formed by a plurality of cooperating expandable members disposed at a distal end of a catheter shaft, thereby forming a composite balloon. The expandable members are generally side-by-side, and are supported at the distal end of the shaft by at least one support member, which is connected between a distal end of the composite balloon and the catheter shaft. Distal ends of the expandable members are sealed and united within a tubular connector; proximal ends of the expandable members are bonded within and communicate with an inflation lumen at the distal end of the shaft. The outer surfaces of the inflatable members cooperate to dilate the wall of an artery. The outer surfaces of the inflatable members further define two sinuses adjacent to the juxtaposed outer surfaces of the inflatable members, which permit passive perfusion of blood through the composite balloon during a dilatation procedure.

Abstract: A percutaneous transluminal device for sensing the mechanical vibrations imparted to it inside a patient's vascular system. The preferred embodiments include a transducer attached to the distal end of a flexible guide wire. The transducer senses mechanical vibrations imparted to the guide wire in vivo and generates a corresponding electronic signal. Devices are provided for generating an audio or visual representation of the electronic signal.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter system is disclosed which includes a proximal metallic tube and a polymer guide wire tube extending alongside the metallic tube. A distal polymer tube is connected to the distal end of the metallic tube and has a dilatation balloon connected to its distal end. The polymer guide wire tube, which is adapted to slidably receive a guide wire, also extends alongside the distal polymer tube and extends through the interior of the inflatable balloon. The balloon catheter may include a core wire extending from a distal end of the metallic tube and parallel with the distal polymer tube. The distal end of the core wire may be directly or indirectly connected to the balloon to transfer force from the distal end of the metallic tube to the balloon. The polymer guide wire tube may be connected to the metallic tube and/or the distal polymer tube by a suitable adhesive, a series of connection rings, or a connection sleeve.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed which incorporates a longitudinally collapsible shaft section including a longitudinally collapsible guide wire lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may also include a longitudinally collapsible inflation lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may take the form of a polymer-encased braid, a polymer bellow, or a helical tube. A longitudinally rigid member may be connected to the distal end of the longitudinally collapsible shaft section in order to facilitate extension and contraction of the collapsible section. Methods of using such a catheter system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed which incorporates an elongate shaft which is at least partially optically transparent. The shaft includes an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen extending therethrough in addition to an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end. The inflatable balloon may include a measuring index disposed thereon. The measuring index may comprise a plurality of longitudinally-spaced radial bands, a plurality of radially-spaced longitudinal bands, or a combination thereof. A method of using an angioscope in combination with a balloon catheter is also disclosed. The method involves inserting a balloon catheter with an optically transparent shaft section into a vascular lumen, inserting an angioscope into the balloon catheter, inflating the balloon on the balloon catheter, and measuring material characteristics of abnormal deposits therein.

Abstract: An intravascular device to assist in the visualization of intravascular lumens and the navigation of guide members, the device including two elongate coaxial tubes which define a central lumen and an annular lumen. A manifold is coupled to the proximal end of the two tubes and includes a first port connected to the central lumen and a second port in fluid communication with the annular lumen. The central lumen and the annular lumen are fluidly independent at the proximal end and are open to the vasculature at the distal end. The coaxial tubes engage each other at the distal end to limit longitudinal movement therebetween.