Method of joining a balloon to a shaft of a balloon catheter

The invention relates to a method for connecting a catheter balloon with a catheter shaft of a balloon catheter according to claim. 1

In one known method, this connection is by a local welding, for example by means of laser welding, performed. This local weld requires a localization of the light beam to the joint, for which purpose the machine for carrying out the known method precisely adjusted or the weld precisely positioned must become. This adjustment is very complicated, error prone and often requires manual correction on device. Moreover, results in laser welding the Problem that the technical effort is overall very high and carried out as part of the invention tests have shown that often a poor uniformity the welding results. Furthermore, it must at this Method matched the material to the radiation source will.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, a method for connecting a catheter balloon with a catheter shaft a balloon catheter to provide, whose technical Cost is lower and its welding results against the prior art are improved.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The method initially gives the advantage that any of the materials for the catheter balloon and the catheter shaft or catheter tube can be used, as an adaptation to be used each radiation source can be carried out on the welding power Absorbier device. The welding power Absorbier device determined during assembly, the accurate positioning, to which later the Welding occurs, and the energy is coupled. Consequently, no complicated equipment adjustment must be carried out be because the required localization of the light beam by these external welding power Absorbier device is achieved in the field of fixation site arranged exactly in the desired welding can be. There is therefore a higher degree of automation the welding system, with higher accuracy and thus quality of the weld possible. Furthermore, between energy input and fixing or sealing of the weld in the given structure to distinguish what is a intense Material flow allows. A displacement of material during the welding process and / or an intense material mixture are thus possible.

Furthermore, there is the advantage that the inventive is process independent of the power source, so that a Number of different radiation sources are used can.

The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments of the Invention to the content.

Particularly simple prefixing, a shrink tube be used, which on the Vorfixierungsstelle is applied and to be welded to the catheter shaft fix mounting portion of the balloon and can seal.

When welding power Absorbier device are also different Embodiments are conceivable. A particularly simple Embodiment is a dyed tubing which via the prefixing be applied exactly to the position may, at the weld between the balloon catheter and Catheter shaft to take place. In a further embodiment is already the prefixing colored locally, serving thus as prefixing and welding power Absorbier device at the same time.

An alternative is a stylet in the catheter shaft can be inserted. The stylet may be a colored area are attached, the exact place may be positioned at the desired welding is. The welding takes place in this case, "from the inside".

As stated previously, a variety of different are Radiation sources conceivable such as laser sources, monochromatic or polychromatic light sources or other electromagnetic radiation sources. It should be noted, that the welding substrate and converging means must strongly differ in their absorption behavior.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and with reference to the Drawing.

It shows:<dl tsize="6" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a schematically highly simplified illustration of a Balloon catheter for explaining a first Embodiment of the method according to the invention, and </dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>one corresponding to FIG. representation of the balloon catheter 1 for explaining a second embodiment the inventive method.</dd></dl>

In Fig. 1 is a balloon catheter 3 in its proximal area shown. In this area, a balloon catheter 1 on a catheter shaft 2 at two points of fixation V or V 'via attachment portions 8 and 8' to fix. To explain the method according to the invention will now be the schematically greatly simplified representation Referring in the fixation point V whose Principles but are also at the point V 'for use can.

In Fig. 1, an embodiment of the invention Method shown in which a first pre-fixing 4, is here applied in the form of a shrink hose, the attachment portion 8 on the desired area the catheter shaft 2 fixed / links. In the pre-fixing 4 is then in the FIG. 1 shown Embodiment a colored hose 5 is applied, the representing a welding power Absorbier device whose Absorption is adapted to the light source, the beam path is symbolized by the undulated arrow L.

After assembly of the pre-fixing 4 and the tube 5 the fixation point V irradiated with homogeneous radiation. This results in a welding of the mounting portion 8 of the catheter balloon 1 with the desired portion of the Catheter tube. 2

Advantage of this method is that even with the mounting the welding power Absorbier device localization of the weld is defined. The automated welding occurs in a homogeneously excited region without precise Requirements of the position of the weld. Here, the irradiated area be much larger than the Weld themselves.

After carrying out the welding of both the A welding power Absorbier device as well as the pre-fixing 4 away.

In FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment is shown, in the region of the fixation point V for welding with the mounting section 9 of the catheter tube 1 and the fixing portion 9 'on the distal side a Stiletto 6 having a colored region 7 in the catheter shaft 2 is inserted. The Stiletto 6 and the colored area 7 constitute in this embodiment the welding power Absorbier device 5 '.

After pre-fixing, for example by a shrink tube 4 according to the embodiment of Fig. 1, again irradiation by means of the radiation source L occur, so that the previously gem by the method. explained Fig. 1 Welding by coupling of radiant energy carried out exactly in the desired joint.