Abstract: A balloon catheter assembly (2) includes a catheter (8) having a catheter shaft (10) with a balloon (12) at its distal end. A sleeve assembly (16) has a diametrically expanding balloon enlargement sleeve (18) at its distal end sized to be positionable over the balloon when the balloon is deflated. The enlargement sleeve can expand from a relaxed condition, at which it is placed over the deflated balloon, to an expanded condition surrounding the fully inflated balloon. The enlargement sleeve is sufficiently thick when expanded for an enlarged dilatation of the vessel when the balloon is reinflated. The enlargement sleeve can be made of elastic or substantially inelastic material; it can also include a porous matrix material with a drug interspersed therein so the drug is applied topically when the vessel is redilated.

Abstract: A balloon catheter assembly (2) includes a catheter (8) having a catheter shaft (10) with a balloon (12) at its distal end. A sleeve assembly (16) has a diametrically expanding balloon enlargement sleeve (18) at its distal end sized to be positionable over the balloon when the balloon is deflated. The enlargement sleeve can expand from a relaxed condition, at which it is placed over the deflated balloon, to an expanded condition surrounding the fully inflated balloon. The enlargement sleeve is sufficiently thick when expanded for an enlarged dilatation of the vessel when the balloon is reinflated. The enlargement sleeve can be made of elastic or substantially inelastic material; it can also include a porous matrix material with a drug interspersed therein so the drug is applied topically when the vessel is redilated.

Abstract: A catheter sleeve includes a radially expansible distal region having a plurality of axial blood perfusion lumens or channels formed thereon. The catheter sleeve may be introduced over a conventional angioplasty balloon catheter with the expansible region lying over the balloon. When the balloon of the angioplasty catheter is expanded, the perfusion lumens will provide a flow path for blood around the expanded balloon. Optionally, the catheter sleeve may further include drug infusion lumens over the radially expansible region. In this way, drugs can be delivered over prolonged periods while the underlying angioplasty balloon is inflated and blood flows through the lumens or channels to perfuse the distal myocardium.