referring to fig1 , a previously - known balloon catheter from u . s . pat . no . 5 , 492 , 532 to ryan et al . ( ryan ) is described . catheter 20 comprises outer tube 22 , inner tube 24 , and balloon 26 having proximal and distal ends , the proximal end of balloon 26 being affixed to outer tube 22 at proximal affixation point 27 and distally affixed to inner tube 24 at point 29 . outer tube 22 and inner tube 24 are provided in a coaxial alignment , such that inflation lumen 23 communicates with balloon 26 while guidewire lumen 25 allows catheter 20 to be advanced over a guidewire . one drawback associated with this previously - known design is that outer tube 22 terminates at proximal affixation point 27 . consequently , the segment distal to outer tube 22 will be susceptible to kinking when the distal end of catheter 20 is advanced into a tight stenosis . the push force provided at the proximal end of catheter 20 may not be fully transmitted to the distalmost end of catheter 20 , in part because outer tube 22 terminates at point 27 . the previously - known catheter design in fig1 further is susceptible to kinking when used in a stenting procedure . for example , if a stent is mounted on balloon 26 , it may span section s and form a relatively rigid segment along this portion of catheter 20 . because outer tube 22 also provides a relatively rigid segment , the flexible segment k may be formed between outer tube 22 and proximal end of stent section s will be susceptible to kinking when the distal end of catheter 20 encounters a tight stenosis . referring to fig2 a , catheter 40 constructed in accordance with principles of the present invention is described . catheter 40 comprises proximal and distal ends , of which the distal end is depicted in fig2 . the proximal end of catheter 40 communicates with a traditional proximal hub assembly ( not shown ) that comprises a proximal guidewire entry port and an inflation / deflation port . the distal end of catheter 40 comprises outer tube 42 , inner tube 44 and balloon 46 , each having proximal and distal ends . inner tube 44 extends coaxially within outer tube 42 and extends beyond the distal end of balloon 46 . inflation / deflation lumen 43 and guidewire lumen 45 communicate with the proximal inflation / deflation port and guidewire entry port , respectively . guidewire lumen 45 of inner tube 44 is configured to permit the advancement of catheter 40 over guidewire 50 . the proximal end of balloon 46 is affixed to outer tube 42 at proximal affixation point 47 , e . g ., using a solder , weld or biocompatible adhesive , while the distal end of balloon 46 is affixed to inner tube 44 at distal affixation point 53 , as shown in fig2 a . the area extending between proximal and distal affixation points 47 and 53 defines balloon segment 55 . the apparatus preferably further comprises radiopaque markers 48 affixed to inner tube 44 and disposed within balloon segment 55 . in accordance with principles of the present invention , outer tube 42 extends distally beyond proximal affixation point 47 to enhance stiffness within balloon segment 55 . outer tube 42 preferably comprises taper 49 that reduces the diameter of outer tube 42 within balloon segment 55 to reduce the overall distal profile . alternatively , taper 49 may be omitted and tube 42 may continue at its original diameter throughout balloon segment 55 . in a preferred embodiment , outer tube 42 tapers inward just distal to proximal affixation point 47 , and the distal end of outer tube 42 is affixed to one or more radiopaque marker bands 48 , as shown in fig2 a . the reduced diameter distal section of tube 42 may extend the entire length of balloon segment 55 and may be affixed to inner tube 44 and the distal end of balloon 46 at distal affixation point 53 . in the embodiment described in fig2 a , outer tube 42 comprises at least one inflation aperture 52 disposed in a lateral surface at a location distal to point 47 and proximal to the most proximal radiopaque marker 48 . inflation aperture 52 permits fluid communication between the proximal inflation / deflation port and balloon 46 via lumen 43 . in an alternative embodiment , outer tube 42 may terminate proximal to the most proximal radiopaque marker within balloon segment 55 , in which case the distalmost tip of tube 42 would communicate directly with balloon 48 via lumen 43 . the characteristics of outer tube 42 may vary along its length to influence stiffness at selected locations , particularly to provide increased stiffness along balloon segment 55 . the characteristics of outer tube 42 may be varied regionally by providing a rigid section , braided or spiral - shaped section , or by providing bores or slits at selected locations . fig2 b and 2c illustrate embodiments wherein helical coils 65 and 67 , having constant and varying pitches , respectively , may be used to selectively enhance stiffness of outer tube 42 . helical coils 65 and 67 may enhance stiffness of outer tube 42 proximal to or within balloon segment 55 . optionally , outer tube 42 may be affixed to inner tube 44 at selected locations along catheter 40 , e . g ., using a solder or weld , to enhance stiffness and pushability so long as inflation lumen 43 is not completely blocked . outer tube 42 may be manufactured using a single - wall tubing , or may be provided as co - extruded tubing to allow for different surface properties inside and outside the tubing . the characteristics of catheter 40 further may be altered by manufacturing outer tube 42 using at least one material along its length , e . g ., a combination of stainless steel and polymeric materials using adhesives or advanced extrusion techniques . it should be appreciated that providing different materials and / or varying the textures of outer sheath 42 at any combination of locations is intended to fall within the scope of the present invention . referring to fig3 , an alternative embodiment of catheter 40 is described wherein the distal end of outer tube 42 communicates with a separate connecting tube 57 having proximal and distal ends . connecting tube 57 is disposed within balloon segment 55 and preferably is affixed to at least one radiopaque marker 48 , as shown . the distal end of outer tube 42 may be affixed to the proximal end of connecting tube 57 , e . g ., using biocompatible adhesive . fig3 b - 3c , corresponding to inset 3 of fig3 a , illustrate outer tube 42 being affixed to connecting tube 57 via butt - weld 58 and lap - weld 60 , respectively . lap - weld 60 is preferred to butt - weld 58 because lap - weld 60 may be less susceptible to kink as push forces are transmitted from outer tube 42 to connecting tube 57 . the embodiments described in fig3 provide reinforced tube segments of differing characteristics without having to manufacture one relatively complicated piece for outer tube 42 . furthermore , connecting tube 57 prevents kinks from developing between radiopaque markers 48 , an otherwise common location for the formation of kinks . referring to fig4 , an alternative embodiment of catheter 40 in accordance with the present invention is described . outer tube 42 is affixed to the proximal end of balloon 46 at proximal affixation point 47 , then tapers via taper 49 to connect to inner tube 44 . in this embodiment , outer tube 42 and inner tube 44 become a single , reinforced tube 59 when connected . as described hereinabove , the properties of outer tube 42 and reinforced tube 59 may be tailored to provide varying stiffness at selected locations along the length of catheter 40 . while preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention are described above , it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention . the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention .
apparatus for enhancing pushability and minimizing kinking of a balloon catheter is provided , wherein a catheter comprises inner and outer tubes , and a balloon that is proximally affixed to the outer tube and distally affixed to the inner tube . the outer tube extends distal to the proximal affixation point and at least partially into the balloon segment to provide additional stiffness and pushability . the outer tube may taper and connect to the inner tube or to radiopaque markers disposed thereon . the outer tube further may be selectively reinforced , as by using multipart construction or using different tube textures , to selectively provide added stiffness in areas susceptible to kinking .