Catheter with radiopaque coil

Abstract

A balloon catheter having a radiopaque coil embedded in the catheter's body corresponding to a landmark of the balloon or other location on the catheter body. The radiopaque coil can be viewed under fluoroscopy to located the balloon or other structure of the catheter. The coil can be readily inserted in the manufacturing process by inserting it between two layers that form the catheter body, and then sealing the coil inside the catheter at the desired location. This facilitates both the manufacturing process and prevents the marker from being dislodged during the manufacturing, navigation, or inflation process.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for making a catheter body comprising the steps of:
 forming a composing catheter body having an inner layer and an outer layer;   cutting away a portion of the outer layer to expose the inner layer;   placing a radiopaque coil on the exposed inner layer; and   forming a new outer layer over the exposed inner layer and the radiopaque coil to trap the radiopaque coil between the inner layer and the new outer layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a tie layer is interposed between the first layer and the new outer layer to bond the first layer to the second layer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising attaching an inflation balloon to the outer layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the radiopaque coil coincides longitudinally with a proximal end of a working section of the inflation balloon.