CONNECTING AND RELEASING STRUCTURE FOR BALLOON SYSTEM

Abstract

The present application provides a connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system, a balloon system comprising the connecting and releasing structure, and a method for fabricating the same. The connecting and releasing structure is used for connection and release of a catheter and a balloon. The connecting and releasing structure comprises a self-sealing valve positioned on the balloon. The self-sealing valve comprises a catheter connecting port. The catheter passes through the catheter connecting port and is sealedly connected to the self-sealing valve. The self-sealing valve is completely or partially bonded to the inner wall of the balloon. When the catheter is removed after delivery of a filler, the self-sealing valve is not pulled out of the balloon, and thus leakage of the filler can be prevented. In addition, the perimeter of a small orifice in a side wall of the self-sealing valve or the perimeter of the cross-section of the distal end thereof is not greater than the outer diameter of the catheter, and therefore, no leakage occurs when the balloon is full of filler. In addition, the perimeters of cross-sections of the self-sealing valve may differ and increase gradually or stepwise from distal to proximal, thus facilitating the insertion and removal of the catheter.

Claims

1. A connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system comprising: a self-sealing valve positioned on the balloon, wherein the self-sealing valve comprises a catheter connecting port, wherein the self-sealing valve is configured to: receive a catheter passing through the catheter connecting port and sealedly connecting to the self-sealing valve, and wholly or partially be secured to the inner wall of the balloon.

2. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 1, wherein the self-sealing valve comprises a passage lumen positioned inside the balloon; a first end of the self-sealing valve is sealedly connected to an opening on the balloon; the catheter enters the self-sealing valve from the first end, exits the catheter connecting port, and enters the interior of the balloon.

3. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 2, wherein the catheter connecting port is disposed in a small orifice on a side wall of the self-sealing valve; the perimeter of this small orifice is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter.

4. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 3, wherein the distal end of the self-sealing valve is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

5. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 3, wherein all of the side of the self-sealing valve that does not contain a small orifice is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

6. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 3, wherein the balloon comprises a balloon upper layer and a balloon lower layer, and an inversion hole is disposed on the balloon upper layer; the self-sealing valve comprises a self-sealing valve upper layer connected to the balloon upper layer and a self-sealing valve lower layer connected to the balloon lower layer, wherein a small orifice is opened in the self-sealing valve upper layer, and the perimeter of the small orifice is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter; the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer are combined with the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer by connecting them along their edges to form an integral structure; after they are combined, they are inverted through use of the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; the balloon upper layer and the balloon lower layer form the balloon, and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer form the self-sealing valve positioned inside the balloon; the self-sealing valve is secured to the inner wall of the balloon, and the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer is sealed with a patch.

7. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 6, wherein the distal end of the self-sealing valve upper layer and/or the self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

8. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 6, wherein all of the self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

9. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 6, wherein the self-sealing valve upper layer and the balloon upper layer are formed entirely from the same type of material or are connected together by bonding or welding different materials.

10. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 6, wherein the self-sealing valve lower layer and the balloon lower layer are formed entirely from the same type of material or are connected together by bonding or welding different materials.

11. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 2, wherein the catheter connecting port is an opening formed in a distal second end of the self-sealing valve, and the perimeter of the opening is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter.

12. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 11, wherein all of the distal end or one side of the self-sealing valve is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

13. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 11, wherein the perimeters of cross-sections of the self-sealing valve decrease gradually or stepwise from a first end to the second end, thus facilitating the insertion and removal of the catheter.

14. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 11, wherein the self-sealing valve is composed of two layers of material sealed along two edges or is a seamless tubular material.

15. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 11, wherein the face of the second end of the self-sealing valve is uneven.

16. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 11, wherein the balloon comprises a balloon upper layer and a balloon lower layer, and an inversion hole is disposed on the balloon upper layer; the self-sealing valve comprises a self-sealing valve upper layer connected to the balloon upper layer and a self-sealing valve lower layer connected to the balloon lower layer; the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer are combined with the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer by connecting them along their edges to form an integral structure; however, the head of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the head of the self-sealing valve lower layer are not connected, and the perimeter of the opening formed by the head of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the head of the self-sealing valve lower layer is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter; after the layers are combined, they are inverted through use of the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; the balloon upper layer and the balloon lower layer form the balloon, and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer form the self-sealing valve positioned inside the balloon; the self-sealing valve is secured to the inner wall of the balloon, and the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer is sealed with a patch.

17. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 16, wherein the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve upper layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

18. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 16, wherein the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

19. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 17, wherein the self-sealing valve is connected to the inner wall of the balloon by bonding or welding.

20. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 16, wherein the size of the head of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the head of the self-sealing valve lower layer is smaller than the end which is connected to the balloon, thus forming a conical self-sealing valve.

21. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 16, wherein the self-sealing valve upper layer and the balloon upper layer are formed entirely from the same type of material or are connected together by bonding or welding different materials.

22. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 16, wherein the self-sealing valve lower layer and the balloon lower layer are formed entirely from the same type of material or are connected together by bonding or welding different materials.

23. A method for fabricating the connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system as described in claim 3 comprises the steps below: providing a balloon upper layer, a balloon lower layer, a self-sealing valve upper layer connected to the balloon upper layer, and a self-sealing valve lower layer connected to the balloon lower layer; disposing an inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; opening a small orifice on the self-sealing valve upper layer, the perimeter of the small orifice being no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter; combining the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer with the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer by connecting them along their edges to form an integral structure; after they are combined, inverting them through use of the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; the balloon upper layer and the balloon lower layer forming a balloon, and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer forming a self-sealing valve positioned inside the balloon; bonding the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer to the inside wall of the balloon; then sealing the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer with a patch.

24. The method as described in claim 23, wherein the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer are combined by bonding or welding them along their edges.

25. The method as described in claim 23, wherein the distal end of the self-sealing valve upper layer and/or self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

26. The method as described in claim 23, wherein all of the self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

27. The method as described in claim 25 or 26, wherein the self-sealing valve is connected to the balloon by bonding or welding.

28. A method for fabricating the connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system as described in claim 11 comprises the steps below: providing a balloon upper layer, a balloon lower layer, a self-sealing valve upper layer connected to the balloon upper layer, and a self-sealing valve lower layer connected to the balloon lower layer; disposing an inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; combining the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer with the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer by connecting them along their edges to form an integral structure; however, the head of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the head of the self-sealing valve lower layer are not connected, and the perimeter of the opening formed by the head of the self-sealing valve upper layer and the head of the self-sealing valve lower layer is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter; after the layers are combined, they are inverted through use of the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer; the balloon upper layer and the balloon lower layer forming the balloon, and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer forming the self-sealing valve positioned inside the balloon; securing the self-sealing valve to the inner wall of the balloon, and sealing the inversion hole on the balloon upper layer with a patch.

29. The method as described in claim 28, wherein the balloon upper layer and the self-sealing valve upper layer and the balloon lower layer and the self-sealing valve lower layer are combined by bonding or welding them along their edges.

30. The method as described in claim 28, wherein the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve upper layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

31. The method as described in claim 28, wherein the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve lower layer is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon.

32. The method as described in claim 30 or 31, wherein the self-sealing valve is connected to the balloon by bonding or welding.

33. (canceled)

34. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 1, wherein the balloon system is an intragastric balloon system.

35. The connecting and releasing structure as described in claim 1, wherein the balloon system is a skin expansion balloon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a balloon sealing structure according to the prior art.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a balloon system of an embodiment according to the present application.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a balloon and a self-sealing valve according to an embodiment of the present application and an exploded view of the same.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a top view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 3.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a side view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 3.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a side view of the balloon after the catheter was removed from the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a balloon and a self-sealing valve according to another embodiment of the present application and an exploded view of same.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a top view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 7.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a side view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 7.

[0052] FIG. 10 is a side view of the balloon after the catheter was removed from the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 7.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0053] The following is a clear and complete description of technical schemes among embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application and not all of the embodiments. So long as no creative work is expended, all embodiments made by persons with ordinary skill in the art from embodiments of the present application belong within the protected scope of the present application.

[0054] Refer to FIG. 2, which is a structural diagram depicting a balloon system containing a connecting and releasing structure according to an embodiment of the present application. Preferably, this balloon system is a balloon system implanted in the human body, such as an intragastric balloon system. It would be easy for a person skilled in the art to see that the balloon system of the present application could be a balloon system used for other purposes, such as a skin expansion balloon. The implant balloon system includes: a balloon 100, a catheter 200, and a gelatin capsule and filler (not shown in the drawing). The balloon 100 contains a self-sealing valve 300. The balloon 100 is enclosed in the gelatin capsule before it is swallowed. One end (i.e., the intracorporeal end) of the catheter 200 is connected to the self-sealing valve 300 on the balloon 100. The other end (i.e., the extracorporeal end) remains outside the capsule. The catheter 200 is long enough that the extracorporeal end remains outside the oral cavity during use. Both the balloon and the self-sealing valve according to the present application are made from flexible materials.

[0055] FIGS. 3 through 6 depict an implant balloon system according to an embodiment of the present application. The structure and fabrication method of a balloon system of this embodiment are described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 through 6. This implant balloon system is specifically an intragastric balloon system. Refer to FIG. 3, which depicts the balloon 100, self-sealing valve 300, and an exploded view thereof. The self-sealing valve 300 has a side-wall opening. The balloon 100 comprises a balloon upper layer 110 and a balloon lower layer 120. An inversion hole 2 is disposed on the balloon upper layer 110. The self-sealing valve 300 comprises a self-sealing valve upper layer 310 connected to the balloon upper layer 110 and a self-sealing valve lower layer 320 connected to the balloon lower layer 120, wherein a small orifice 311 is opened in the self-sealing valve upper layer 310, and the perimeter of the small orifice 311 is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter 200. The self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and the balloon upper layer 110 may be formed entirely from the same type of material or may be connected together by bonding or welding different materials. Likewise, the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 and the balloon lower layer 120 may be formed entirely from the same type of material or may be connected together by bonding or welding different materials. The balloon upper layer 110 and the self-sealing valve upper layer 310 are combined with the balloon lower layer 120 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 by connecting them along their edges 1 to form an integral structure. After they are combined, they are inverted through use of the inversion hole 2 on the balloon upper layer 110. The balloon upper layer 110 and the balloon lower layer 120 form the balloon 100, and the self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 form the self-sealing valve 300. The self-sealing valve 300 enters the interior of the balloon 100. Next, the distal end or all of the self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon 100, as shown in FIG. 4. Lastly, the inversion hole 2 on the balloon upper layer 110 is sealed with a patch.

[0056] Refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a top view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a side view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve depicted in FIG. 3. The catheter 200 passes from outside the balloon 100 into the passage lumen 130 between the self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 and passes out from the small orifice 311 on the self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and enters the interior of the balloon 100.

[0057] The intragastric balloon according to the present embodiment is used as follows: after the patient swallows a gelatin capsule containing the balloon 100 and part of the catheter 200, the capsule dissolves rapidly in the intragastric environment. Filler is delivered into the balloon 100 via the extracorporeal end of the catheter 200. The balloon 100 undergoes a transition from an initial decompressed state to an inflated state. Because the diameter of the small orifice 311 is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter 200, there is a tight, gapless fit between the catheter 200 and the small orifice 311, which ensures an overall seal for the balloon 100 and the self-sealing valve during delivery of the filler so that the filler does not leak. After filling is completed, the catheter 200 is removed. The self-sealing valve upper layer 310 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 320 press tightly against each other under the pressure of the filler in the balloon 100, as shown in FIG. 6. The balloon 100 occupies intragastric volume over a long period of time and thereby attains the weight-loss objective.

[0058] FIGS. 7 through 10 depict a balloon system containing a connecting and releasing structure according to another embodiment of the present application. This embodiment differs from the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 through 6 in the following respect: the self-sealing valve is not provided with a small orifice, but rather with a distal opening that serves as a catheter connecting port. The structure and fabrication method of a balloon system of this embodiment are described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.

[0059] Specifically, FIG. 7 depicts the balloon 100, self-sealing valve 300, and an exploded view thereof. The balloon 100 comprises a balloon upper layer 140 and a balloon lower layer 150. An inversion hole 2 is likewise disposed on the balloon upper layer 140. The self-sealing valve 300 comprises a self-sealing valve upper layer 330 connected to the balloon upper layer 140 and a self-sealing valve lower layer 340 connected to the balloon lower layer 150. Moreover, the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 are conical. That is, the size of the head 331 (or free end) of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 is smaller than the end which is connected to the balloon. The self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the balloon upper layer 140 may be formed entirely from the same type of material or may be connected together by bonding or welding different materials. Likewise, the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 and the balloon lower layer 150 may be formed entirely from the same type of material or may be connected together by bonding or welding different materials.

[0060] The balloon upper layer 140 and the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 are combined with the balloon lower layer 150 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 by bonding or welding them along their edges 1. However, the head 331 of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 are not bonded, and the perimeter of the opening formed by the head 331 of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter 200. After the layers are combined, they are inverted through use of the inversion hole 2 on the balloon upper layer 140. The balloon upper layer 140 and the balloon lower layer 150 form the balloon 100, and the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 form the self-sealing valve 300, which enters the interior of the balloon 100, as shown in FIG. 8. The distal end or all of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 is bonded to the inner wall of the balloon 100, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Lastly, the inversion hole 2 on the balloon upper layer 140 is sealed with a patch.

[0061] Refer to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a top view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve of the balloon depicted in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a side view of a catheter assembled with the self-sealing valve of the balloon depicted in FIG. 7. The catheter 200 passes from outside the balloon 100 into the passage lumen 160 between the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 and passes out from the opening formed by the head 331 of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 into the interior of the balloon 100.

[0062] The intragastric balloon according to the present embodiment is used as follows: after the patient swallows a gelatin capsule containing the balloon 100 and part of the catheter 200, the capsule dissolves rapidly in the intragastric environment. Filler is delivered into the balloon 100 via the extracorporeal end of the catheter 200. The balloon 100 undergoes a transition from an initial decompressed state to an inflated state. Because the perimeter of the opening formed by the head 331 of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 is no greater than the outer diameter of the catheter 200, there is a tight, gapless fit between the catheter 200 on the one hand and the head 331 of the self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the head 341 of the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 on the other hand, which ensures an overall seal for the balloon 100 and the self-sealing valve 300 during delivery of the filler so that the filler does not leak. After filling is completed, the catheter 200 is removed. The self-sealing valve upper layer 330 and the self-sealing valve lower layer 340 press tightly against each other under the pressure of the filler in the balloon 100, as shown in FIG. 10. The balloon 100 occupies intragastric volume over a long period of time and thereby attains the weight-loss objective.

[0063] According to the connecting and releasing structure of the present application, the self-sealing valve is completely or partially bonded to the inner wall of the balloon. When the catheter is removed after delivery of a filler, the self-sealing valve is not pulled out of the balloon, and thus leakage of the filler can be prevented. In addition, the perimeter of a small orifice in a side wall of the self-sealing valve or the perimeter of the cross-section of the distal end thereof is not greater than the outer diameter of the catheter, and therefore, no leakage occurs when the balloon is full of filler. In addition, the perimeters of cross-sections of the self-sealing valve may differ and increase gradually or stepwise from distal to proximal, thus facilitating the insertion and removal of the catheter.