Lubricious yet bondable catheter channel sleeve for over-the-wire catheters

Claim 1

In a catheter body for use in an over-the-wire catheter guidewire system in conjunction with a guidewire having a terminal segment whose exterior is other than a smooth metallic surface, said catheter body comprising an outer tubular member terminating in a balloon formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, and combinations thereof, and an inner tubular member defining an inflation lumen between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member and a guidewire lumen inside said inner tubular member for advancement over said guidewire, said inner tubular member extending substantially the length of said outer tubular member and terminating at an orifice at the distal end of said balloon, said orifice sealed around said inner tubular member to isolate said balloon from said guidewire lumen, the improvement in which said inner tubular member is comprised of a proximal segment formed entirely of a lubricious polymer joined to a distal segment formed entirely of a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide-based polymers, polyurethane-based polymers and blends of a polyamide and a polyurethane, the length of said distal segment being less than the length of said terminal segment of said guidewire.