Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter device and method adapted for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, where the catheter has several lumens so arranged to more efficiently channel and cleanse harmful materials from within the catheter, thereby preventing dangerous materials, such as air, from entering the body cavity where air or other gas or liquid may cause harm or death. The device includes a balloon inflation lumen for inflating/deflating a balloon on the distal end of the catheter, and a directional flow lumen having a one-way valve, which prevents flow in the reverse direction. The catheter may also include a guidewire lumen for introducing guidewires or liquids into the proximal end of the catheter for use in the distal end, which may lie within a body lumen.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a guidewire lumen that extends to the distal tip of the catheter, a balloon mounted on the distal end of the catheter and an inflation lumen extending through the shaft and communicating with the interior of the balloon is provided with an improved arrangement for filling the inflation lumen and balloon with liquid while purging air from the system. The device includes a one-way valve means carried by the catheter shaft within the balloon which permits fluid flow from the guidewire lumen into the balloon under a predetermined pressure greater than about one atmosphere. The system is used by first plugging the distal end of the guidewire lumen and then pressurizing the guidewire lumen with inflation liquid sufficiently to open the one-way valve means to permit inflation liquid to fill the balloon. As the balloon fills, air is forced out of the balloon through the inflation lumen and is vented through the open proximal end of the inflation lumen.