Importance

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Abstract

A balloon catheter having a mechanism for purging air therefrom having a flexible inflation shaft coaxially disposed over a less flexible inner shaft, and a fitting attached to the proximal end of the inflation shaft and slidably mounted on the inner shaft. The fitting contains a variable high pressure seal and a passive low pressure seal. The fitting may be slid along the inner shaft towards its distal end to collapse the inflation shaft in an accordion manner, thereby reducing the volume that would be occupied by air in the inflation shaft and the balloon. The remaining air is removed with a syringe that may be attached to the fitting. In a second embodiment disclosed, the balloon may be collapsed in an accordion manner along with the inflation shaft, further reducing the volume that would be occupied by air. The low pressure seal of the fitting prevents air from entering the catheter during the purging operation.

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First Claim