BALLOON CATHETER WITH EMBEDDED ROD

摘要

A balloon catheter with a rod embedded within a catheter shaft is provided. The catheter shaft can have a polymer filled solid body with an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen extending at least partially therethrough. A balloon member can be attached to a distal end of the shaft. The embedded rod is extended through at least a portion of the polymer filled solid body along the inflation and guidewire lumens. The rod is preferably in non-translatable contact with the shaft body. The rod can be disposed within the balloon region of the shaft to increase the tensile strength of that region. To increase pushability and tractability of the balloon catheter, the rod may include a first length with a diameter and a second length with a lesser diameter, with a tapered region interposed between the first and second lengths.