US 12,226,601 B2
Balloon catheter assembly for insertion and positioning therapeutic devices within a vascular system
Enkhsanaa Batsukh, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and Huey Chan, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and Stryker European Operations Limited, Carrigtwohill (IE)
Filed by STRYKER CORPORATION, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED, Carrigtwohill (IE)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/162,707.
Application 18/162,707 is a continuation of application No. 16/677,505, filed on Nov. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,583,664.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173238 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. A61M 25/10 (2013.01)
CPC A61M 25/1027 (2013.01) [A61M 2025/1077 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1079 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of purging air from a balloon catheter, the balloon catheter comprising an elongated, flexible catheter having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a working lumen extending therebetween; a balloon member having respective proximal and distal ends secured to, and circumferentially around, an outer surface of a distal portion of the catheter, such that an inner surface of the balloon member and an outer surface of the catheter define an inflatable balloon interior, the catheter having an inflation lumen having a proximal end connected to an inflation port, the inflation lumen extending distally from the inflation port to a distal end opening in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon interior; and one or more purge apertures formed through a wall of the distal portion of the catheter, each of the one or more purge apertures forming a fluid path between the inflatable balloon interior and the working lumen of the catheter, the one or more purge apertures configured to allow air to pass therethrough and to become clogged by a contrast agent, the method comprising:
sealing the open distal end of the working lumen;
connecting a reservoir of contrast agent to the inflation port;
injecting the contrast agent from the reservoir through the inflation port and inflation lumen, such that the contrast agent flows through the one or more purge apertures, the balloon interior and the working lumen of the catheter thereby purging air from the balloon catheter; and
after purging air from the balloon catheter, the contrast agent coagulating to form plugs in the one or more purge apertures thereby sealing the one or more purge apertures and pressure from the contrast agent inflating the balloon interior.