US 11,878,133 B2
Methods of preparing balloon expandable catheters for cardiac and vascular interventions
Justin Peterson, Santa Rosa, CA (US); and Victoria Ung, Santa Rosa, CA (US)
Assigned to MEDTRONIC, INC., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by MEDTRONIC, INC., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/940,465.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/912,179, filed on Oct. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0100988 A1, Apr. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 25/10 (2013.01)
CPC A61M 25/10182 (2013.11) [A61M 2210/125 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for purging a balloon catheter of air, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting an inflation fluid into a balloon and an inflation lumen of the balloon catheter, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the balloon;
positioning the balloon catheter in an inverted orientation with a distal end thereof disposed below a proximal end thereof, wherein the distal end of the balloon catheter includes the balloon;
positioning a vibration source in direct contact with an outer surface of the balloon of the balloon catheter and/or an outer surface of an outer shaft of the balloon catheter;
vibrating the balloon catheter with the vibration source to cause air within the balloon of the balloon catheter or air within the inflation lumen of the balloon catheter to move upwards towards the proximal end of the balloon catheter; and
moving the vibration source along the outer surface of the balloon catheter while vibrating the balloon catheter, wherein the direct contact between the outer surface of the balloon catheter and the vibration source is maintained during the step of moving the vibration source.