| abstract |
A metal balloon catheter (10) having a main tubular body, a metal balloon (14) proximate a distal end of the main tubular body (12), a central annulus extending along an entire longitudinal aspect of the catheter for accommodating a guidewire therethrough and an inflation annulus adjacent the central annulus which extends along the longitudinal axis of the main tubular body (12) and terminates in fluid flow communication with an inflation chamber of the metal balloon (14). The metal balloon catheter (10) may be either unitary integral metal catheter in which the main tubular body and the balloon are fabricated of metal, or it may consist of a polymeric main tubular body (12) and a metal balloon (14). |