Innerless catheter

Claim 1

A balloon catheter for use with a guide wire, the catheter comprising: an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end defining a length therebetween, the outer tube defining a single lumen therethrough wherein the single lumen extends the length of the outer the, said single lumen comprising an inflation lumen; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon being connected to the distal end of the outer tube to extend distally therefrom, with the interior of the balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and an inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a guide wire lumen therethrough wherein the inner tube is disposed within the inflation lumen of the outer tube, the distal end of the inner tube being sealably connected to the distal end of the balloon, and the inner tube extending through the interior of the balloon so that the proximal end of the inner tube is proximal of the proximal end of the balloon, the inner tube being connected to the outer tube at a position substantially spaced distally from the proximal end of the outer tube, the inner tube further having an exterior surface which is radially displaced from an interior surface of the outer tube at the position of the connection between the inner tube and the outer tube.