Abstract: A dilatation catheter has a shaft comprising a tube of braided material encapsulated over a major portion of its length in an outer coating of semi-rigid inelastic material. An outer coating of elastic material extends over a minor portion of the length of the shaft at or near its distal end. An inner coating of elastic material is provided over the entire length of the inside of the tube. The distal end portion of the catheter is thereby inflatable by pressure applied from within the shaft to form a balloon. Radio-opaque markers may be provided at each end of the inflatable portion.