EXCHANGEABLE INTEGRATED-WIRE BALLOON CATHETER

摘要

A fully exchangeable integrated-wire dilation catheter (30) for performing angioplasty is disclosed having a flexible small diameter guide wire (32) provided with an enlarged diameter distal end portion (52) and a flexible elongated tubular shaft (34) with at least one dual function fluid conducting lumen (46) adapted to receive the guide wire (32) extending therethrough. The distal end (38) of the tubular shaft (34) is connected to the proximal end of an expandable balloon (44) provided with a coaxially aligned distal orifice (48) having means for releasably engaging the enlarged distal end portion (52) of the guide wire (32) in sealing relationship. In a preferred embodiment the sealing means is a flexible sleeve (50) extending from the distal orifice (48) of the expandable balloon (44) and dimensioned to slidingly engage the correspondingly sized enlarged distal end portion (52) of the guide wire (32). Associated procedures for utilizing the dilation catheter are also disclosed.