Patent ID: 6746423
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A rapid exchange type balloon catheter, comprising:a) an elongated shaft having an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, and i) a proximal shaft section which defines a proximal portion of the inflation lumen, comprising a tubular member formed of polyetheretherketone having a proximal end and a distal end; ii) a distal shaft section comprising a first distal outer tubular member having a proximal end secured to the distal end of the polyetheretherketone tubular member, a second distal outer tubular member having a proximal end secured to a distal end of the first distal outer tubular member, and an inner tubular member disposed within the first and second distal outer tubular members and defining a guidewire lumen extending from a guidewire proximal port at a proximal end of the inner tubular member to a guidewire distal port at a distal end of the inner tubular member, the guidewire proximal port being formed by a side opening extending through a sidewall of the outer tubular member with a section of the inner tubular member in the side opening and fused to the sidewall of the outer tubular member; and iii) a fused shaft section having a length of about 1 millimeters to about 10 millimeters, formed by a portion of the first distal outer tubular member fused to an outer surface of the inner tubular member along a length thereof, the fused section extending from the proximal end of the inner tubular member to a location proximal to the second distal outer tubular member, with the inflation lumen extending along the fused section from the guidewire proximal port to the distal end of the fused section being defined by an inner surface of the first distal outer tubular member, the second distal outer tubular member having an inner surface, the inner surface extending around a circumference of the second distal outer tubular member and being spaced apart from the outer surface of the inner tubular member so that the inflation lumen in the second distal outer tubular member has an annular shape around the outer surface of the inner tubular member; and b) an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft section having a proximal end secured to the distal end of the second distal outer tubular member, a distal end secured to the inner tubular member, and an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen.