Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon dilatation catheter, which has a distal section wherein a small dimensioned distal section of an outer tubular member is bonded to an inner tubular member over a significant portion thereof to provide a catheter shaft having small transverse dimensions and improved flexibility with little or no loss is pushability. The catheter construction can be employed in a wide variety of catheters.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter system employing a retractable protective sheath for protecting a body lumen from a stent delivered by the catheter. The catheter has a plurality of lumens, with at least one lumen devoted to housing a rod, wire or hypotube that retracts the protective sheath. The lumen housing the retracting member can carry a flushing fluid to purge the distal portion of the catheter.

Abstract: A perfusion-type dilatation catheter with perfusion ports in the wall of the catheter shaft wherein the proximal edges of the perfusion ports have depressions extending into a guidewire receiving inner lumen which passes through the catheter shaft. The depressed proximal edges prevent excursions of guidewires through the perfusion ports as the guidewire is passed through the guidewire receiving inner lumen. The perfusion ports may be conveniently made by forming holes into the wall of the catheter shaft, inserting shaping pins into the holes, heating the wall of the catheter shaft to make it readily deformable and then rotating the shaping pins proximally along the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft so that the rotated shaping pins form depressions along the proximal edges of the perfusion ports which extend into the guidewire receiving inner lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter which has a coiled supporting element disposed within a guidewire receiving inner lumen extending within the interior of the balloon. Substantially lower profiles can be obtained with catheters of this type, particularly with perfusion-type dilatation catheters with little chance that the inner member will collapse when the balloon is inflated to high pressures. Additionally, the coiled supporting element provides much smoother transitions at the ends of the balloon and thereby improves the trackability of the catheter over a guidewire.