Importance

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Abstract

A dilation catheter having a first shaft section, a second shaft section attached to the first shaft section, and an inflatable balloon attached to the second shaft section. A fluid pathway is defined through the catheter for inflation of the balloon. A guide wire lumen is provided in the second shaft section that can extend between the distal end of the balloon and a point distal of the first shaft section. A stiffening member is provided within the second shaft section of the dilation catheter to provide additional stiffness to the second shaft section. In a preferred embodiment, the stiffening member is attached at the distal end of the first shaft section to occlude the hollow passage of the first shaft section. In this embodiment, the first shaft section farther includes a fluid port that is proximal of the stiffening member and that extends between the hollow passage of the first shaft section and the exterior of the first shaft section. The second shaft section overlaps the first shaft section so that the hollow passage of the second shaft section is in fluid communication with the fluid port of the first shaft section to define the fluid flow pathway. The stiffening member is free from fixed interconnection at its distal end, and includes a linear tapered region along a portion of its length to provide a gradient of stiffness to the second shaft section along the length of the stiffening member.

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First Claim