Patent ID: 8133250

Claim:
An intravascular balloon catheter comprising: an outer tubular member; an inner tubular member disposed coaxially within the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member defining a guidewire lumen; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal waist and a distal waist, wherein the balloon is attached to the outer tubular member at the proximal waist and the balloon is attached to the inner tubular member at the distal waist; wherein at least a portion of the outer tubular member comprises a nanocomposite material; wherein the nanocomposite material comprises a matrix material and at least one plurality of nanoparticles; wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprise a clay; wherein the plurality of nanoparticles has a varying quantity along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member; so as to vary a flexibility of the outer tubular member.