Reduction in diameter

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing the outer diameter of the balloon (1) of a balloon catheter in the non-expanded state, wherein at least one restriction element (3) is applied to at least a portion of the balloon (1) of the balloon catheter. In this way, the outer diameter of the balloon (1) is thus reduced and, moreover, its flexibility increased.

Claims

1. A method for reducing an outer diameter of a balloon of a balloon catheter in a non-expanded state, comprising the following steps: (A) providing a balloon catheter; (B) attaching at least one band-like element and/or at least one two ring elements to at least a portion of a balloon of the balloon catheter, thereby forming a prepared balloon, wherein: an arrangement of the at least one band-like element is carried out spirally, screw-like, or helically; and/or an arrangement of the at least two ring elements is carried out in the form of rings; (C) passing the balloon prepared in accordance with step (B) through an opening to further reduce the outer diameter; and (D) applying a sheath to the balloon.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (C) is repeated until a desired outer diameter of the balloon is achieved.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one band-like and/or at least one ring element is removed from the balloon in an additional step (C1), namely after step (C) and before step (D).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the steps (B) to (C1) are repeated until a desired outer diameter of the balloon (1) is achieved.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is provided with folds before applying the at least one band-like and/or at least one ring element pursuant to step (B).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a step (B1) a sleeve, a length of which amounts to at least a length of the balloon, is slid over the prepared balloon, said step (B1) being carried out after step (B) but before step (C).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter is provided with a lumen for a guidewire extending at least through the balloon, wherein at least during step (C), the lumen contains a guidewire.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one band-like and/or at least one ring element is made wholly or in part of polytetrafluoroethylene.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one band-like and/or at least one ring element has a width of 2 mm.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one band-like and/or at least one ring element has a width ranging between 0.5 and 2 cm.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein a distance between individual windings of the band or the individual rings ranges between 0.5 and 7 mm.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the distance between the individual windings of the band or the individual rings ranges between 1 and 5 mm.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a tapered configuration, with a larger first inner diameter at a first end where the prepared balloon is introduced into the opening, and with a smaller second inner diameter at a second end through which the prepared balloon exits the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Elucidation of the invention is provided by the following figures where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with band-shaped restriction elements;

(3) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the balloon according to FIG. 1 after tightening of the band-shaped restriction elements;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the balloon according to FIG. 2 having been passed through an opening;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with ring-shaped restriction elements;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the balloon according to FIG. 4 after tightening of the ring-shaped restriction elements, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows the balloon according to FIG. 5 having been passed through an opening.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a part of a balloon catheter, namely the catheter shaft 2 with the balloon 1 arranged at the distal end. A band 3, preferably made of PTFE material, is placed around the balloon 1 as a restriction element, resulting in a plurality of turns/windings 4.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the balloon 1 from FIG. 1, but after the band-shaped restriction element 3 and the turns/windings 4 placed around the balloon 1 have been tightened. This already will cause the outer diameter of the balloon 1 to be significantly reduced, which, however, is still not sufficient.

(10) FIG. 3 shows the result after passing the balloon 1 with a band-shaped restriction element 3 placed in turns/windings 4 through an opening not shown here. It can be seen that the outer diameter of the balloon 1 was reduced considerably. Subsequently, the band-shaped restriction element 3 can be removed and the balloon 1 be provided with a sheath as a protector.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a part of a balloon catheter, namely the catheter shaft 2 with the balloon 1 arranged at the distal end. A plurality of ring-shaped restriction elements 3, preferably made of PTFE material, is placed around the balloon 1.

(12) In FIG. 5 the balloon 1 from FIG. 4 is illustrated, however after the ring-shaped restriction elements 3 placed around the balloon 1 have contracted and as a result widened slightly. This already will cause the outer diameter of the balloon 1 to be significantly reduced, which, however, is still not sufficient.

(13) FIG. 6 shows the result after passing the balloon 1 with the ring-shaped restriction elements 3 through an opening not shown here. It can be seen that the outer diameter of the balloon 1 was reduced considerably. Subsequently, the ring-shaped restriction element 3 can be removed and the balloon 1 be provided with a sheath as a protector.