Balloon Catheter

Abstract

A balloon catheter comprises a shaft including a tubular having a relatively rigid proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section, each section connected to one another through a flexible transition member, and an inflatable balloon extending at a distal portion of the distal shaft section. The proximal and distal shaft sections define an inflation lumen extending therein which is in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon to allow inflation pressure to the balloon. The distal shaft further comprises a guide wire lumen to receive a guide wire. The guide wire lumen has a guide wire inlet, located between the end portion of the proximal shaft section and the balloon, and a guide wire outlet, located distally to the balloon and leading to an exterior of the catheter. The balloon catheter can be used for coronary angioplasty.

1 . A balloon catheter comprising a shaft including a mainly tubular relatively rigid proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section, more flexible than the proximal shaft section, attached to a distal end portion of the proximal shaft section, and an inflatable balloon extending at a distal portion of the distal shaft section, the proximal and distal shaft section defining an inflation lumen extending therein which is in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon to allow inflation pressure to the balloon, the distal shaft section comprising a guide wire lumen to receive a guide wire, which guide wire lumen has a guide wire inlet, located between the end portion of the proximal shaft section and the balloon, and a guide wire outlet, located distally to the balloon and leading to an exterior of the catheter, in which a flexible transition member is attached to the distal end portion of the proximal shaft segment extending into the distal shaft segment, characterized in that the distal end portion of the proximal shaft section is skived and in that the transition member is secured to the proximal shaft section substantially all along the skived distal end portion of the proximal shaft section. 
   
   
       2 - 9 . (canceled)