Patent ID: 7261850

Claim:
A method of making a tip of a balloon catheter for performing a therapeutic procedure on a patient, comprising the steps of: a) providing a flexible catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, at least a distal portion of the catheter shaft having a tubular body defining a lumen and a distal end with a distally facing surface; and providing an angioplasty balloon having a central inflatable portion and a pair of cylindrical proximal and distal legs; b) affixing the distal balloon leg to the tubular body at or near its distal end; c) providing a tubular tip member defining a lumen; and placing the tip member in contact with the distally facing surface of the tubular body, thereby defining a contact location; d) placing a shrink tube of heat-shrink material around the contact location; and inserting a wire mandrel through the lumens of the tubular body and tip member; e) heating the shrink tube sufficiently to cause the shrink tube to apply a radially compressive force to the tubular body and tip member, and to cause partial melting of the tubular body and the tip member; and f) while the shrink tube is at an elevated temperature, moving the wire mandrel longitudinally in the proximal and/or distal direction, such that portions of the tubular body and tip member blend together and seal the tip member to the tubular body.