Importance

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Abstract

A medical device includes a flexible, elongated tube having a continuous, smooth, outer surface, adapted for introduction into the body, and a connection for introducing inflation fluid into the space defined by the length of the tube. The tube is elastomer and the tube wall is in a weakened state while adjacent portions of the tube are not so weakened, the wall of the selected portion having a lower resistance to expansion than adjacent portions. By use of heat-sensitive, annealable plastic, a tube of uniform thickness is weakened at a selected location by annealing. The selected limited-length portion, by reason of its weakened state, is adapted to preferentially respond to pressure of inflation fluid within the tube by expanding transversely to a balloon shape larger than adjacent portions of the tube that are subjected to the same pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a tube surrounded by a sleeve having the limited-length, preferentially expansive portion and anti-stick means in the preferred form of a porous inner sleeve extends between the outer sleeve and the central member. The outer sleeve extends about the end of the central member to define the lead surface.

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First Claim