EP-3988157-B1 - BALLOON CATHETER

Inventors

• OKAMOTO, Mitsumasa
• OTA, MITSUHIRO
• FUJISAWA, SOICHIRO
• OHARA, MASAHIKO
• HORIBA, Keitaro
• KUNISADA, TAKASHI

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20200615

Claims (3)

1. A balloon catheter (10) comprising a balloon (13) configured to be inflatable and deflatable and provided on a tip-end side, wherein: a linear part (30) is formed in an outer surface of the balloon (13), extending linearly in an axial direction of the balloon (13); a notch (31) depressed in shape is formed in the linear part (30) at an intermediate position in a length direction of the linear part (30), opening in a direction intersecting the length direction; the balloon (13) is formed of a film (29) with a predetermined thickness; the linear part (30) is formed integrally with the film (29); characterized in that a protrusion (35) is formed on the film (29) at a position corresponding to the notch (31), protruding to an inner circumferential side of the balloon (13), wherein the film (29) is increased in thickness by the protrusion (35).
2. The balloon catheter (10) according to claim 1, wherein the notch (31) is formed in such a position as to divide a length of the linear part (30) into substantially equal parts.
3. The balloon catheter (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a width of the notch (31) tapers down toward a bottom (31b) of the notch.

Description

Cross-Reference to Related Application The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-115743 filed on June 21, 2019. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a balloon catheter. Background Art A balloon catheter has been used for remedies such as PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) and PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty), etc. The balloon catheter includes an inflatable and deflatable balloon on a tip-end side thereof. As for the balloon catheter, the balloon in a deflated state is introduced into a spot narrowed or obstructed by a lesion or the like produced in a blood vessel and then the spot is stretched by inflating the balloon. Some balloon catheters are provided with a linear element extending in an axial direction to an outer surface of the balloon (for example, see Patent Literature 1). When the balloon is inflated in the lesion, the balloon catheter allows the element to make an incision in the lesion. This makes it easy to stretch the lesion. GB 2 487 400 A discloses a scoring balloon including a balloon portion having a balloon wall and a plurality of sets of scoring elements disposed on the balloon. Each set of scoring elements includes a plurality of scoring members arranged longitudinally in series, with gaps between adjacent scoring elements. Each set is radially spaced relative to the other sets around the balloon and the scoring elements of one set are longitudinally offset relative to the scoring elements of an adjacent set. The scoring elements may be in the form of a rib with notches formed therein, the notches extending partially through the rib or all the way through to the base. The scoring elements may be integral with the balloon and formed of the same material. US 2006/184191 A1 is related to a cutting balloon catheter having increased flexibility regions. One or more cutting members or blades are coupled to the balloon. Furthermore, the balloon includes one or more points or areas of increased flexibility, wherein a break in the one or more cutting members is aligned with the one or more discrete points of flexibility in the balloon. A balloon catheter in US 2018/043140 A1 includes a balloon/shaft assembly and a linear member. The balloon/shaft assembly includes a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a balloon connected to the catheter shaft. The linear member straddles an inflatable region of the balloon and is mounted on the balloon/shaft assembly. The linear member includes a hard portion and a flexible portion. The hard portion includes at least an outer portion disposed on an opposite side to an inner portion facing the inflatable region, of a portion disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the inflatable region in an inflated state. The flexible portion is a portion other than the hard portion. The flexible portion is extendable and has a lower hardness than the hard portion. US 2013/018396 A1 discloses a cutting balloon catheter including a balloon mounted on a distal portion of a catheter shaft. The balloon includes a cutting member mounted on an exterior surface of the balloon. For providing the cutting member with enhanced flexibility for navigating tortuous anatomy, its expansion characteristics are adapted to the expansion characteristics of the balloon to which the cutting member is mounted. The cutting balloon catheter of US 2006/106412 A1 comprises cutting members that include two or more sections that are connected via a fracturable or yielding bridge section that increases flexibility when passing through or being utilized in tortuous anatomy. Citation List Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-112361 Summary of Invention Technical Problem Now, while the balloon catheter is being introduced into a blood vessel, the balloon may pass through a curved blood vessel on the way. Here, with the balloon catheter that includes the above-mentioned element, when the balloon passes through the curved blood vessel, it is conceivable that the element will stick out, disabling the balloon from properly following the curved blood vessel. This might make introduction work difficult due to an increase in resistance against the balloon being introduced into the body. The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances and a main object thereof is to provide a balloon catheter capable of curbing reduction in ease of operation when being introduced into the body. Solution to Problem The invention is defined in independent claim 1. Further aspects are defined in dependent claims 2 and 3. To solve the above-described problem, a balloon catheter of a first disclosure includes a balloon configured to be inflatable and deflatable and provided on a tip-end side, wherein: a linear part is formed in an outer surface of the balloon, extending linearly in an axial direction of the balloon; and a notch depressed in shape is formed in the linear pa