Non-over-the wire balloon catheter

Claim 2

A balloon catheter comprising: an elongate hollow, thin wall, tube having a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end; a hollow, flexible torque transmitting shaft having a first end connected to the distal end of the tube and having a flow lumen therethrough which is in communication with the lumen of the tube; an elongate core member extending distally from a second end of the shaft; and an inflatable balloon surrounding the core member and having a proximal end bonded to the second end of the shaft and a distal end bonded to the core member, an interior of the balloon being in communication with the flow lumen.

Claim 3

The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the hollow flexible shaft comprises a plurality of layers of helically wound wire.

Claim 4

The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein the hollow flexible shaft has an inner surface and an outer surface and has a liquid impervious layer on one of the inner and outer surfaces.

Claim 5

The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein each of the layers of helically wound wire is wound at a different bias from an immediately adjacent layer.

Claim 6

The balloon catheter of claim 4 wherein adjacent layers are wound with opposite bias.

Claim 7

The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein each layer comprises a plurality of wires wound side-by-side.

Claim 8

The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the core member has a spring tip at a distal end.

Claim 9

The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the core member is connected to the shaft proximate the second end of the shaft.

Claim 10

The balloon catheter of claim 1 and further comprises means positioned near the balloon for venting air from the balloon.

Claim 11

The balloon catheter of claim 9 wherein the means for venting air comprises an air passage through the shaft.

Claim 12

The balloon catheter of claim 1 where in the tube and the shaft are an integral tubular member.

Claim 13

The balloon catheter of claim 11 wherein the shaft has a smaller wall thickness than the tube.

Claim 14

The balloon catheter of claim 11 wherein the shaft has a smaller outer diameter than the tube.

Claim 15

The balloon catheter of claim 11 wherein the shaft has a port therein to provide communication between the flow lumen and the interior of the balloon.

Claim 16

A balloon catheter comprising: a main shaft having a first inflation lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end; a secondary shaft having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the main shaft and having a second inflation lumen extending therethrough from the proximal end to a distal end; the second inflation lumen being connected to the first inflation lumen, the secondary shaft having greater flexibility than and substantially similar torque transmitting characteristics to the main shaft; an elongate core member extending distally from the distal end of the secondary shaft; and an inflatable balloon surrounding the core member and having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the secondary shaft, a distal end connected to the core member, and an interior in communication with the second inflation lumen.

Claim 17

A balloon catheter comprising: a main shaft having a first inflation lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end; a secondary shaft having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the main shaft and having a second inflation lumen extending therethrough from the proximal end to a distal end; the second inflation lumen being connected to the first inflation lumen, the secondary shaft having greater flexibility than and substantially similar torque transmitting characteristics to the main shaft; an elongate core member extending distally from the distal end of the secondary shaft; and an inflatable balloon surrounding the core member and having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the secondary shaft, a distal end connected to the core member, and an interior in communication with the second inflation lumen.

Claim 18

The balloon catheter of claim 15 wherein the main shaft is a thin wall metal tube.

Claim 19

The balloon catheter of claim 15 wherein the secondary shaft comprises a plurality of layers of helically wound wire.

Claim 20

The balloon catheter of claim 17 wherein the secondary shaft further comprises a liquid impervious layer on a surface.

Claim 21

The balloon catheter of claim 17 wherein each of the layers of helically wound wire is wound at a different bias from an immediately adjacent layer.

Claim 22

The balloon catheter of claim 19 wherein adjacent layers are wound with opposite bias.

Claim 23

The balloon catheter of claim 17 wherein each layer comprises a plurality of wires wound side-by-side.

Claim 24

The balloon catheter of claim 15 wherein the core member has a spring tip at the distal end.

Claim 25

The balloon catheter of claim 15 wherein the core member is connected to the secondary shaft proximate the distal end of the secondary shaft.

Claim 26

The balloon catheter of claim 15 and further comprising means positioned near the balloon for venting air from the balloon.

Claim 27

The balloon catheter of claim 24 wherein the means for venting air comprises an air passage through the shaft.

Claim 28

The balloon catheter of claim 15 wherein the main and secondary shafts are in integral tubular member.

Claim 29

The balloon catheter of claim 26 wherein the secondary shaft has a smaller wall thickness than the main shaft.

Claim 30

The balloon catheter of claim 26 wherein the secondary shaft has a smaller outer diameter than the main shaft.

Claim 31

The balloon catheter of claim 26 wherein the shaft has a port therein to provide communication between the second inflation lumen and the interior of the balloon.

Claim 32

The balloon catheter of claim 26 wherein the tubular member is a thin walled metal tube.