Patent ID: 8303537

Claim:
A catheter comprising, a shaft, the shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, the distal portion terminating at a distal end, and a conduit there through, a distal tip layer, the distal tip layer being in the form of a tube and being positioned about the distal portion of the shaft, the distal tip layer having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the distal tip layer extends longitudinally to the same extent as the distal end of the shaft such that the distal end of the distal tip layer and the distal end of the shaft are coterminous, the catheter further comprising a medical balloon, the balloon having a body portion positioned between a proximal waist and a distal waist, wherein the distal waist is connected to the distal portion of the shaft and is positioned at least adjacent to the proximal end of the distal tip layer.