Abstract: A balloon catheter is disclosed including a “no-fold” balloon at a distal end thereof that surrounds a distal portion of a guidewire shaft having a compliant shaft or tubular section for selectively gripping a guidewire there within. Upon introduction of inflation fluid at low pressure values, the compliant shaft section of the guidewire shaft is radially compressed to “lock” onto the guidewire while an outer diameter of the no-fold balloon remains unchanged. The simultaneous compression of the compliant shaft section against a guidewire located within the guidewire lumen and the filling of the balloon with inflation fluid without expanding the balloon provides a clinician with a conjoined balloon catheter and guidewire ensemble that together may be pushed through a tight stenosis such as a chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Abstract: A balloon catheter having an improved profile by placing the proximal balloon neck inside the outer catheter shaft. This outer catheter shaft to balloon neck joint allows for a smaller outer diameter at the joint between the outer catheter shaft and the balloon, thus providing a reduced catheter profile with improved crossability, trackability and stiffness. The balloon may be a no-fold balloon having a uniform wall thickness, a uniform inner diameter, and a uniform outer diameter along its full length in an unexpanded configuration. A balloon with such uniform dimensions provides for a more flexible balloon by eliminating the thicker neck and taper portions of the balloon. Further, the no-fold aspect of the balloon reduces the profile of the balloon catheter thus resulting in improved crossability and trackability.