fig1 through 5 illustrates features of an intravascular catheter 10 embodying features of the invention which generally includes an elongated catheter shaft 13 with a proximal shaft section 16 , a distal shaft section 19 , and a radially expansive inflatable balloon 22 on a distal portion 25 of the distal shaft section 19 . an adapter 28 is shown mounted on a proximal end 31 , of proximal shaft section 16 . brachial and femoral radiopaque markers 34 and 37 are secured to an exterior 40 of the proximal shaft section 16 at a location distal to the adapter 28 . an inflation lumen 43 extends within the catheter shaft 13 from the proximal , end 31 thereof to a location spaced proximal to a distal end 46 of the shaft 13 . a guidewire receiving lumen 49 extends within , at least , the distal shaft section 19 to a port 52 in a distal end 55 of the catheter 10 . the shaft 13 , at the distal shaft section 19 , includes an outer tubular member 58 and an inner tubular member 61 extending within a distal portion 64 of the distal shaft section 19 and defining the guidewire lumen 49 for receiving a guidewire ( not shown ) therein . the inflation lumen 43 and the guidewire receiving lumen 49 extend side - by - side along a substantial length of the distal shaft section 19 . the inner tubular member 61 includes a port 70 at a proximal end 73 thereof exposed to an exterior 76 of a proximal portion 79 of the distal shaft section 19 at an aperture 82 . in a preferred embodiment , the outer tubular member 58 is formed 6 f a single piece tubular member 85 . the outer tubular member 58 may be formed of a polymeric material , including nylons and polyether block amides available under the trade name pebax from elf atochem . the outer tubular member 58 is preferably formed at least in part of nylon 12 . the inner tubular member 61 may be formed from a lubricious material such as high density polyethylene and , preferably , is of a tri - layer tubular construction including high density polyethylene as an inner layer , a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid such as primacor from dow chemical co . as a middle layer , and a nylon as the outer layer . the proximal shaft section 16 has proximal and distal portions , 88 and 91 , and includes a high strength hypotube 94 with an exterior polymeric jacket 97 having inner and outer layers , 100 and 103 respectively ( see fig2 ). the inflation lumen 43 within the proximal shaft section 16 is defined , at least in part , by the hypotube 94 . the hypotube 94 may be formed of a metallic material , and is preferably , formed of 304v stainless steel , niti alloy , mp35n , elgiloy and the like . non - metallic materials may also be used such as braided polyimide , and high strength polymers such as polyetheretherketone ( peek ), polyetherketone , and polyketone . the exterior polymeric jacket 97 may be formed of any nylon , polyether block amides such as pebax from elf atochem , copolymers of ethylene and acrylic acid such as primacor from dow chemical co ., and polyolefins such as plexar from equistar chemical co ., or any combination thereof . the exterior polymeric jacket 97 is preferably formed at least in part of nylon . preferably , the jacket 97 has a two layered structure , the outer layer 103 being relatively lubricious to facilitate advancement of the catheter through the lumen of a guiding catheter , other lumens and ports , and the inner layer 100 being of high strength to withstand the pressures of the inflation fluid . a proximal end 106 of the outer tubular member 58 is secured , preferably , by way of a laser fusion bond 107 , to polymeric jacket 97 at a location proximal a distal end 109 of the polymeric jacket 97 . preferably , a distal end 112 of the bond 107 is spaced apart from the distal end 109 of the polymeric jacket 97 , in a range from about 1 . 5 to about 2 . 5 cm , and the fusion 107 has a length of about 0 . 5 to about 2 mm . a distal tip 115 of the hypotube 94 is tapered distally to a smaller transverse dimension . the hypotube tapered tip 115 is generally about 4 to about 8 cm long . in the embodiment described in fig1 the hypotube tapered tip 115 is generally about 4 cm long . a transition 118 including , at least a portion of , a proximal portion 121 of the distal shaft section 19 and a distal portion 124 of the proximal shaft section 16 , provides for a smooth transition between the relatively rigid proximal shaft section 16 and the relatively flexible distal shaft section 19 . at least a portion 127 of the transition 118 further includes , a tubular support member 130 with an inner lumen 133 extending therein between a proximal port 136 and a distal port 139 at proximal and distal ends , 142 and 145 , respectively of the tubular support member 130 . the tubular support member 130 is preferably formed from material and construction to provide the transition 118 with greater flexibility than the relatively more rigid proximal shaft section 16 . the length of the tubular support member 130 is generally about 5 cm to about 7 cm . preferably , the tubular support member 130 , as shown in fig1 is about 6 . 7 cm . the tubular support member 130 has a wall thickness of about 0 . 004 to about 0 . 008 inches , preferably about 0 . 005 inches . in a presently preferred embodiment , the tubular support member 130 includes , a composite tubular member 148 , the composite tubular member 148 , preferably , including a tubular metallic member 151 including a layer of metallic strand 154 , in forms such as a metallic wound ( or coil ) or braid , such as braided metallic member 157 shown in fig1 and 3 . preferably , the composite tubular member 148 includes an inner layer 160 and an outer layer 163 disposed on either side of the tubular metallic member 151 . the tubular support member 130 may be formed of high strength polymeric materials which provide the transition 118 with greater flexibility than the relatively more rigid proximal shaft section 16 . suitable polymeric materials include engineering polymers such as polyetheretherketone ( peek ), polyetherketone , polyketone , polytetrafluoroethylene , or nylons . when the tubular support member 130 is a composite tubular member 148 , including an inner layer 160 and an outer layer 163 disposed on either side of the tubular metallic member 151 , the inner layer 160 is preferably formed of polytetrafluoroethylene , the outer layer 163 is preferably formed of nylon 6 or nylon cp and the tubular metallic member 151 is , preferably , formed of stainless steel . the proximal end 142 of the tubular support member 130 is secured to a proximal end 166 of the tapered tip 115 of the hypotube 94 . preferably , the hypotube tapered tip 115 at its proximal end 166 includes a step 169 with the proximal end 142 of the tubular support member 130 extending proximally to a proximal end 172 of the step 169 . in a preferred embodiment , a distal end 175 of the tapered tip 115 of the hypotube 94 extends distally to a point proximal a distal end 178 of the composite tubular member 148 . in the presently preferred embodiment , shown in fig1 a distal portion 181 of the tubular support member 130 further includes a tubular polymeric member 184 having proximal and distal ends 187 and 190 , respectively . the tubular polymeric member 184 has a longitudinal dimension of about 1 . 2 cm . tubular polymeric member 184 may , preferably , be formed of nylon 12 . preferably , when a composite tubular member 148 having an outer layer 163 is present , the tubular polymer member 184 and the outer layer 163 are formed of compatible material , more preferably , of the same material , to facilitate adhesion to one another . however , the tubular polymeric member 184 may be formed of any material which can be easily bonded to the composite tubular member 148 . the proximal end 187 of the tubular polymeric member 184 extends over the distal end 178 of the composite tubular member 148 and over the composite tubular member 148 to a point proximal a distal end 196 of the hypotube 94 . alternatively , the proximal end 187 can extend over the distal end 178 , forming a lapjoint 193 , as shown in fig6 ; or the proximal end 187 of the tubular polymeric member 184 can extend proximally to a point along the length of the composite tubular member 148 to the proximal end 142 of the step 169 ; or some point inbetween . in yet another embodiment , as shown in fig8 the distal end 196 of the hypotube jacket 97 can extend distally to the same distal location as the distal end 190 of the tubular polymeric member 184 . an intermediate portion 199 of the tubular polymeric member 184 forms a junction 202 , with the outer tubular member 58 and the inner tubular member 61 , the junction 202 having a proximal end 205 substantially being at the same longitudinal point as the outer tubular member aperture 82 where the inner tubular member 61 enters the outer tubular member 58 , and is distally spaced apart from a distal end 178 of the composite tubular member 148 . the junction 202 has a distal end 208 proximal a distal end 211 of the tubular polymeric member 184 . preferably , the junction 202 has a longitudinal dimension ranging from 0 . 8 to about 1 . 2 cm , with the distal end 208 of the junction 202 spaced from the distal end 190 of the tubular polymeric member 184 , by at least about 0 . 2 cm . the junction 202 may be formed by suitable adhesives such as loctitie uv 3311 , or mechanically connected by a suitable fastener or secured by a variety of other suitable means . the junction 202 , preferably , is fusion bonded . in the embodiment illustrated in fig9 - 11 , the distal end 175 of the hypotube tapered tip 115 extends distally beyond the distal end 208 of the junction 202 . the hypotube tapered tip 115 , preferably , has a longitudinal dimension of about 8 cm . preferably , in this embodiment , the transitions 18 includes a polymeric tubular member 211 ′ having proximal and distal ends , 214 and 217 . the proximal end 214 can extend to the proximal end 172 of the step 169 , or alternatively , can extend proximally , to a point proximal to the distal end 109 of the hypotube jacket 97 with the distal end 217 extending into the fused junction area 202 . preferably , the polymeric tubular member 211 , has a length of about 5 . 7 cm , and a wall thickness of about 0 . 008 inches at the proximal end 214 to about 0 . 004 inches at the distal end 217 . the polymeric tubular member 211 may beformed of any suitable material , preferably , polyetheretherketone . the transverse cross - section of the polymeric tubular member 211 distal end 217 can have the cross - section of a general or truncated cylinder , as shown . now turning to fig1 and , 13 , the outer tubular member 58 includes proximal and distal outer tubular members , 220 and 223 , forming a lapjoint 226 which includes an area 229 along the distal shaft section 19 immediately to either side of the distal shaft section aperture 82 . preferably , a distal end 232 of the lapjoint 226 extends distal to the distal end 145 of the tubular support member 130 , with a proximal end 233 of the lapjoint 226 extending proximally at least to a point at the distal end 175 of the hypotube 94 tapered tip 115 . the proximal and distal outer tubular members , 220 and 223 , may be formed individually and thereafter joined to one another , or can be co - extruded with each other . although in the embodiment shown in fig1 - 15 , the junction 202 is not present , the catheter 10 may be formed so as to include the junction 202 . the proximal and distal outer members , 220 and 223 , are formed of material compatible to form a bond therebetween . preferably , the proximal outer member 220 is formed of a nylon such as nylon 12 and the distal outer member 223 is formed of a soft , flexible material such as a softer nylon or a polyether block amide such as pebax 72d . in yet another embodiment , features of which are illustrated in fig1 and 15 , a reinforcing sleeve 235 is disposed over a portion of the outer tubular member 58 , in aperture overlap area 229 along the distal shaft section 19 immediately to either side of the distal shaft section aperture 82 . preferably , a distal end 238 of the reinforcing sleeve 235 extends distal to the distal end 145 of the tubular support member 130 , with a proximal end 244 of the reinforcing sleeve 235 extending proximally at least to a point at the distal end 175 of the hypotube 94 , tapered tip 115 . preferably , the reinforcing sleeve 235 is formed of material such as nylon , and has a longitudinal dimension of about 4 cm . in yet another embodiment , features of which are illustrated in fig1 , the outer tubular member 58 includes proximal and distal outer tubular members , 220 ′ and 223 ′, with a distal end 247 of the proximal outer tubular member 220 ′ extending distal to the distal end 145 of the tubular support member 130 . a proximal end 250 of the distal outer tubular member 223 ′ forms an overlap joint 253 over the distal end 247 of the proximal outer tubular member 220 ′. preferably , the overlap 253 has a longitudinal dimension of about 4 cm . in yet another embodiment , as shown in fig1 - 19 , the composite tubular member 148 extends distally beyond the distal end 208 of the junction 202 , preferably by about 0 . 2 cm . the balloon 22 may be formed of suitable compliant , non - compliant , or hybrid compliant material , including thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers depending upon the end use , e . g . dilatation , stent delivery etc . the presently preferred balloon polymeric material is a relatively compliant polyether block amide such as pebax 70 sold by elf atochem . other materials include nylon 11 and 12 and pebax 72 . compliant polymeric materials , i . e . compliant within the working expansion of the balloon , which provide a wingless balloon and which have substantially elastic recoil during deflation are also suitable for stent delivery work . other desirable polymeric materials for balloon manufacture include polyurethanes such as tecothane . the catheter shaft 13 will generally have the dimensions of conventional dilatation or stent deploying catheters . the length of the catheter 10 , measured from the distal end of the adapter 16 to the distal end 46 of the catheter shaft 13 may be about 90 cm to about 150 cm , and is typically about 137 cm . the outer tubular member 58 of the distal shaft section 19 has a length of about 15 cm to about 25 cm , typically about 20 cm , an outer diameter ( od ) of about 0 . 025 in to about 0 . 045 in , preferably about 0 . 034 - 0 . 038 in and an inner diameter ( id ) of about 0 . 02 to about 0 . 04 , preferably about 0 . 028 to about 0 . 032 in . the inner tubular member 61 has a length of about 18 cm to about 40 cm , preferably about 25 to about 30 cm , an od of about 0 . 02 to about 0 . 026 in and an id of about 0 . 012 to about 0 . 022 in . the inner and outer tubular members , 58 and 61 , may taper in the distal section to a smaller od or id . the length of the balloon 22 may be about 10 mm to about 50 mm , preferably about 10 mm to about 40 mm . in an expanded state , the balloon diameter is generally about 0 . 5 mm to about 4 . 5 mm , typically about 1 . 5 to about 4 mm . the wall thickness will vary depending upon the burst pressure requirements and the hoop strength of the balloon material . it will be apparent from the foregoing that , while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described , various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . moreover , those skilled in the art will recognize that features shown in one embodiment may be utilized in other embodiments .
the invention is generally directed to an intraluminal catheter system with an improved transition between a proximal shaft portion and a more flexible distal shaft portion . the improvement provides enhanced flexibility and kink - resistance , thus , facilitating advancement through tortuous anatomy . the present catheters may be used for either or both angioplasty and stent deployment .