Patent ID: 7875002

Claim:
A balloon catheter comprising: a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the tubular member; a stent mounted on the inflatable balloon; a first lumen disposed in the tubular member and in communication with an interior of the inflatable balloon; a second lumen disposed in the tubular member for receiving a guidewire substantially along its entire length, the second lumen having a first opening at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second opening at the distal end of the tubular member; a first slit disposed longitudinally from the first opening along the tubular member to permit separation of the guidewire with respect to the second lumen; wherein the inflatable balloon comprises a second slit in substantial alignment with the first slit; an adapter disposed at the proximal end of said tubular member; and an adapter slit disposed in said adapter to permit separation of the guidewire from the adapter, said adapter slit being narrower than an outside diameter of the guidewire, said adapter slit being straight from a proximal end of the catheter to a proximal end of the adapter.