Abstract: A hollow, cylindrical protector for a dilatation catheter balloon. The disclosed protector is made from silicone tubing having a coating on at least an inner surface thereof for enhancing the lubricity of the protector and thus facilitating easy installation of the protector over a dilatation catheter's balloon. In this way, the risk of damage to the balloon resulting from protector installation is reduced. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner surface of a silicone balloon protector is coated via vacuum deposition or the like with parylene. The parylene-coated protector is then slid over a deflated and wrapped dilatation catheter balloon. The catheter is then subjected to elevated temperatures for the purposes of heat-setting. The elevated temperatures cause the silicone protector to be reduced in diameter, further reducing the balloon's profile. Also, the compression and heating causes the balloon material to heat-set, increasing the reliability of symmetrical deflation and re-wrap of the balloon.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter having a balloon (20) of unique and novel configuration which enhances critical properties of the catheter. In at least one section (26), the balloon (20) has a substantially semi-circular cross section when in an uninflated, unwrapped condition. A groove (28) is formed in the resulting flat surface (30) of the balloon (20) accommodate an elongate guide wire lumen (40) and improves fold memory. The guide wire lumen (40) extends along and beside a distal section (23) of the catheter, and is bonded near its distal end into the groove (28) in the balloon (20). At the distal end of the groove (28), the balloon (20) is configured such that the guide wire lumen (40) passes through the balloon wall, such that the distal end of the lumen is disposed in the interior inflation chamber of the balloon (20). In this way, the guide wire (42) follows an essentially straight path in the region of the balloon (20).