Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen, and a distal portion of the shaft being at least in part within an outer sheath having a wedge-shaped distal end. In one embodiment, the outer sheath around the distal end of the shaft is the distal skirt section of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the outer sheath is a sleeve member having at least a portion located distal to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen, and a distal portion of the shaft being at least in part within an outer sheath having a wedge-shaped distal end. In one embodiment, the outer sheath around the distal end of the shaft is the distal skirt section of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the outer sheath is a sleeve member having at least a portion located distal to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a reduced slippage lubricious coating, and a method of performing a medical procedure such as a balloon dilatation procedure in a patient's blood vessel. The second coating (i.e., the balloon coating) is lubricious to facilitate movement of the catheter in the patient's body lumen, yet has sufficiently low lubricity such that the slippage of the inflated balloon from a desired site within the blood vessel is reduced compared to a balloon coated with the first lubricious coating.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a reduced slippage lubricious coating, and a method of performing a medical procedure such as a balloon dilatation procedure in a patient's blood vessel. The second coating (i.e., the balloon coating) is lubricious to facilitate movement of the catheter in the patient's body lumen, yet has sufficiently low lubricity such that the slippage of the inflated balloon from a desired site within the blood vessel is reduced compared to a balloon coated with the first lubricious coating.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a multilayered shaft with variable flexibility along the length of the shaft. In a presently preferred embodiment, the multilayered shaft has a multilayered outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, both the inner and outer tubular members having sections along which the flexibility and/or diameter of the tubular members decrease. These diameter and flexibility transition sections along the outer tubular member are preferably aligned with transitions along the inner tubular member, to provide improved catheter performance.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen, and a distal portion of the shaft being at least in part within an outer sheath having a wedge-shaped distal end. In one embodiment, the outer sheath around the distal end of the shaft is the distal skirt section of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the outer sheath is a sleeve member having at least a portion located distal to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft, an inflatable balloon on a distal shaft section, and a distal tip member bonded to a surface of the distal end of the balloon. The balloon has a proximal skirt section and a distal skirt section sealingly secured to the shaft, and an inflatable section therebetween with an interior in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the shaft. The distal skirt section of the balloon has a proximal portion, and a distal portion with a smaller outer diameter than the proximal portion. Preferably, the distal tip member has a proximal section with an inner surface bonded to an outer surface of the distal portion of the distal skirt section, and a distal section extending beyond the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a reduced slippage lubricious coating, and a method of performing a medical procedure such as a balloon dilatation procedure in a patient's blood vessel. The second coating (i.e., the balloon coating) is lubricious to facilitate movement of the catheter in the patient's body lumen, yet has sufficiently low lubricity such that the slippage of the inflated balloon from a desired site within the blood vessel is reduced compared to a balloon coated with the first lubricious coating.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft, a balloon on a distal shaft section, and a distal tip having at least a section formed by a distal end portion of the shaft and an outer sheath member fused together. The outer sheath member has a sidewall break at least partially filled with the polymeric material of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shaft. The outer sheath member preferably comprises a first polymeric material having a higher Shore durometer hardness than a second polymeric material forming the outer surface of the shaft distal end portion. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of making a balloon catheter, in which the polymeric material of the outer surface of the shaft is caused to soften and flow into the opening formed by the break in the sidewall of the outer sheath, thus forming the distal tip.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft having at least a section which is multilayered with a first layer and a second layer secured to the first layer, and a mandrel having at least a section between the first and second layers. In one presently preferred embodiment, the mandrel is in contact with an outer surface of the first layer and with an inner surface of the second layer.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen, and a distal portion of the shaft being at least in part within an outer sheath having a wedge-shaped distal end. In one embodiment, the outer sheath around the distal end of the shaft is the distal skirt section of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the outer sheath is a sleeve member having at least a portion located distal to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a reduced slippage lubricious coating, and a method of performing a medical procedure such as a balloon dilatation procedure in a patient's blood vessel. The second coating (i.e., the balloon coating) is lubricious to facilitate movement of the catheter in the patient's body lumen, yet has sufficiently low lubricity such that the slippage of the inflated balloon from a desired site within the blood vessel is reduced compared to a balloon coated with the first lubricious coating.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft having at least a section which is multilayered with a first layer and a second layer secured to the first layer, and a mandrel having at least a section between the first and second layers. In one presently preferred embodiment, the mandrel is in contact with an outer surface of the first layer and with an inner surface of the second layer.

Abstract: To prevent blood from clotting or being diluted (which causes inaccuracy in the measurement of the characteristics of blood drawn from a patient), a needle assembly has the interior portion of its cannula and at least one portion of its hub covered by a dry coat of anticoagulant. To provide the dry coat of anticoagulant onto the interior surfaces of the cannula and the hub, a liquid anticoagulant is atomized thereto so that an even coat of the anticoagulant is provided to the interior surfaces of the cannula and hub. The volume and concentration of the anticoagulant atomized to the inside of the needle assembly are controlled as the liquid anticoagulant is ultra-sonically atomized to the interior portion of the needle assembly.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft, an inflatable balloon on a distal shaft section, and a distal tip member bonded to a surface of the distal end of the balloon. The balloon has a proximal skirt section and a distal skirt section sealingly secured to the shaft, and an inflatable section therebetween with an interior in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the shaft. The distal skirt section of the balloon has a proximal portion, and a distal portion with a smaller outer diameter than the proximal portion. Preferably, the distal tip member has a proximal section with an inner surface bonded to an outer surface of the distal portion of the distal skirt section, and a distal section extending beyond the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intravascular balloon catheter and a method for forming the same. The catheter includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a guidewire receiving lumen extending through at least a distal portion of the elongated shaft; and a balloon on a distal shaft section. A distal portion the guidewire receiving lumen has different stiffness along a length thereof.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a distal end, including an elongated catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section, a guidewire receiving lumen extending along at least a portion thereof to a port at the catheter shaft distal end, and an inflation lumen; a balloon on the distal catheter shaft section and having an inflatable interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, proximal and distal ends, a proximal balloon shaft section adjacent the balloon proximal end, and a distal balloon shaft section adjacent the balloon distal end and being adhesively secured to the catheter shaft; and a tip member on the distal end of the catheter having proximal and distal ends; and being in fluid communication with the catheter shaft guidewire receiving lumen; the proximal end adhesively joined to the balloon distal shaft section and the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a medical device component having a section with a reduced wall thickness, and the device component formed thereby. The method generally comprises rotating a medical device component while a material removal device is placed into contact with a section of the rotating component, to thereby remove material therefrom. In one embodiment, the medical device component is a catheter balloon in which at least one of the proximal and distal shaft sections of the balloon is thinned according to the method of the invention. In another embodiment, the component is a polymeric tube, including polymeric tubes useful in forming a distal tip or catheter shaft section of a catheter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a catheter assembly and method for making the same. The catheter includes an elongated shaft and an inflatable balloon on a portion of a distal shaft section and in surrounding relation thereto. The balloon has proximal and distal tapered regions and an intermediate region longitudinally disposed therebetween. The balloons distal tapered region has a length at least equal to the proximal tapered region length, preferably greater. The proximal and distal tapered regions each forms a taper outer angle with the catheter shaft with the distal taper outer angle being greater than the proximal taper outer angle.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intravascular balloon catheter and a method for forming the same. The catheter includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a guidewire receiving lumen extending through at least a distal portion of the elongated shaft; and a balloon on a distal shaft section. A distal portion the guidewire receiving lumen has different stiffness along a length thereof.