Patent attributes
This patent document discloses guide extension catheters for use with a predefined length guide catheter and related methods for treating blood vessel lesions and abnormalities. A guide extension catheter can include a push member, an elongate tube member, and a balloon radially surrounding a portion of the elongate tube member. The balloon can include an inflatable tube coupled to an elongate shaft having a lumen for receiving inflation fluid, and the inflatable tube can be coiled in a helical manner around the elongate tube member. A bioactive layer can coat an outer surface portion of the balloon and, when the balloon is inflated, one or more drugs of the bioactive layer can be received by the blood vessel. Inflation of the balloon can engage the elongate tube member with an inner surface of the blood vessel and/or an inner surface of the guide catheter.
