Patent ID: 8105274

Claim:
A balloon catheter assembly comprising: an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; an inner tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen extending therethrough, the inner tubular member having a first column stiffness; an expandable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, the expandable tubular member disposed proximate the distal end of the inner tubular member and extending distally therefrom, the expandable tubular member having a second column stiffness greater than the first column stiffness, wherein the expandable tubular member is expandable from a first inner diameter to a second inner diameter; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end affixed proximate the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a distal end affixed proximate the distal end of the expandable tubular member.