Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is for a guided locking balloon protector (10) for a dilatation catheter balloon (30) which consists of a proximal cylindrical component (15) with a distal end and a proximal end and a distal cylindrical component (20) with a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal cylindrical component (15) has two longitudinally opposed raised ribs (55) defining a slot (60) and a inner diameter (40) that can slidably fit over the balloon (25). The distal cylindrical component (20) has a inner diameter (65) that can slidably fit over balloon (25) and a integral rib (75) extending proximally from the proximal end, the integral rib (75) is sized to fit in the slot (60) and is approximately the length of the proximal cylindrical component (15). Affixed to the proximal end of the integral rib (75) is a downwardly extending locking tab (80). The method of installing the guided locking balloon protector (10) over the dilatation catheter balloon (25) includes sliding the proximal cylindrical component (15) over the distal portion (35) of the catheter (30) to cover the proximal end of the balloon (25). Next the distal cylindrical component (20) is slid over the distal portion (35) of the catheter (30) until the raised rib (75) meets the slot (60). The integral rib (75) with the locking tab (80) is inserted into the slot (60) and two components are pushed together until the proximal end of the distal cylindrical component (20) abuts the distal end of the proximal cylindrical component (15) and locking tab (80) engages the proximal end of the proximal cylindrical component (15) and locks the distal cylindrical component (20) to the proximal cylindrical component (15) covering balloon (25).

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First Claim