Patent ID: 8211157

Claim:
A method of securing a catheter inner tube to a guidewire disposed in the inner tube comprising the steps of: providing a balloon catheter comprising an inner tube with a guidewire therein, a medical balloon and an inflation lumen, the inner tube being a solitary tube within the medical balloon and having a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen being a solitary lumen within the inner tube, wherein the guidewire is within the guidewire lumen and is isolated from the inflation lumen over the entire length of the guidewire, the medical balloon disposed about the inner tube and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, wherein a collapsible portion of the inner tube is constructed to collapse inward upon delivery of an inflation fluid to the medical balloon and grip the guidewire and to release from the guidewire upon removal of the inflation fluid; delivering an inflation fluid to the medical balloon to cause the collapsible portion of the inner tube to collapse inward against the guidewire and secure the inner tube to the guidewire.