Patent ID: 6942640

Claim:
A balloon catheter, comprising: a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen; and b) a balloon having a central working section with a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a cylindrical inflated outer diameter defining the maximum inflated diameter of the balloon from the proximal to the distal end of the working section, and the balloon further having proximal and distal end sections which extend inwardly with respect to the working section and which are radially aligned with the end portions of the working section, the central working section and the proximal and distal end sections defining a single interior chamber which encircles the shaft and which inflates to an inflated configuration, and having proximal and distal secured sections which are between the proximal end and the distal end of the central working section of the balloon in the inflated configuration, so that the working section inflates to a cylindrical shape having a length with a middle portion which exerts a purely outerward radial force and with the end portions proximal and distal to the middle portion which exert in part an inward radial force.