Importance

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Abstract

The disclosed balloon catheter includes a proximal catheter segment, a distal catheter segment, and an inflatable balloon member secured to and disposed between the proximal and distal catheter segments. A tension member is secured to the distal catheter segment and passes through the lumen of a coil spring included in the proximal catheter segment, such that the tension member is free to slide within the coil spring. A stop member is secured to the proximal end of the tension member to limit the sliding movement of the tension member inside the proximal catheter segment. The disclosed structure permits the balloon member to stretch both axially and circumferentially as it inflates, thereby improving the concentricity of the resulting balloon. In addition, in the preferred embodiment the stop member is positioned on the tension member such that the tension member is free to slide further in the coil spring after the balloon member has been inflated to its normal inflated state, thereby providing protection against overpressures in the balloon member.

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First Claim