Balloon/delivery catheter assembly with adjustable balloon positioning

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention is a catheter assembly in which a balloon of a balloon catheter is variably positionable along the polymeric delivery shaft of a delivery catheter.
The balloon catheter of the assembly may have an inflation coupler, a distal balloon catheter end portion with an expandable balloon fluidly coupled to the inflation coupler, and a balloon catheter lumen extending between first and second generally collinear ports.
The delivery catheter of the assembly has a polymeric delivery shaft with a delivery lumen extending between a proximal delivery port and a distal delivery port.
The distal balloon catheter end portion is coaxially positionable along at least a portion of the polymeric delivery shaft.
In one balloon catheter embodiment of the assembly described, the inflation shaft has a longitudinal axis different than the polymeric delivery catheter shaft.
In an alternative balloon catheter embodiment, the inflation shaft and distal balloon catheter end portion are both coaxially disposed about the polymeric delivery shaft.
Preferable to this embodiment, the balloon catheter lumen forms a fluid coupling between the inflation coupler (as needed) and the expandable balloon.
Further, there may be a valve seat in a distal balloon tip region that has a tight coaxially clearance about an outer surface of the polymeric delivery shaft.
This valve seat clearance forms a slideable interference fit that provides a controlled fluid seal so that the balloon may be pressurized for inflation.
In another embodiment, the distal balloon catheter end portion is adapted to be positioned on the polymeric delivery shaft at a chosen location with a friction fit between the balloon catheter lumen and the polymeric delivery shaft.
Alternatively, an inner surface of a balloon catheter lumen and an outer surface of the delivery catheter may be threaded so that the balloon may be positioned on the polymeric delivery shaft by rotating a threaded coupling formed by the two surfaces.
In a further embodiment, a positioner may be provided that is adapted to slide coaxially over the polymeric delivery shaft and to transmit forces from a user to the distal balloon catheter end portion