Dilatation catheter with side aperture

摘要

A balloon dilatation catheter defines a side aperture defined in the catheter shaft between the ends of the catheter and communicating between the guidewire lumen and the catheter exterior. A removable support mandrin may occupy a proximal lumen of the catheter. The mandrin may define a distal tip portion which is positioned preferably closely proximal to the aperture. The distal tip portion may have a reduced diameter relative to the average diameter of portions of the mandrin which are proximal to the tip portion, for providing mandrin tip flexibility. Also, a catheter-stiffening bridge member may be positioned within and permanently secured to the catheter adjacent to the aperture portion, to reduce catheter kinking adjacent thereto.