Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A catheter and method of use as an aortic balloon catheter having an integral expandable/collapsible lumen. The catheter comprises a main catheter body having a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, and further includes an expandable/collapsible lumen disposed thereabout and carried by the main catheter body. The expandable/collapsible lumen has a relatively large diameter when inflated with respect to the main catheter body, and is self-inflating by fluid pressure when the fluid flows therethrough. The large inflatable/collapsible lumen is attached at its distal end to the main catheter body and thus is carried therewith into a body vessel, and thus is also supported by the catheter body to avoid kinking. The catheter of the present invention is ideally suited for insertion into smaller access arteries for placement into larger arteries, such as an aortic balloon catheter which can be inserted into a smaller femoral artery and advanced into the ascending aorta to provide arterial return of oxygenated blood into the ascending aorta. The catheter further has an adjustable length. The present invention also achieves technical advantages as a catheter for insertion into any body vessel having a limited diameter and which is susceptible to trauma, such as a urethra.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim