Patent ID: 6599462
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a balloon catheter, said method comprising the steps of:a) providing a workpiece which comprises: i) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, an outer surface, and an inner surface; and, ii) a inner tube disposed within at least a portion of the lumen of the outer tube, adjacent at least the distal end of the outer tube, said inner tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, an outer surface and an inner surface; wherein a portion of the outer surface of the inner tube is connected to a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube; b) softening a first region of said outer tube to permit said first region to be distended; c) causing the softened first region of the outer tube to distend; and d) causing the distended first region of the outer tube to return to a non-softened state, said distended first region thereby forming a balloon on said catheter body.