Pulmonary artery polyurethane balloon catheter

Claim 1

A pulmonary artery balloon catheter for wedge pressure measurements comprising in combination: 1. A tubular catheter body formed of polyurethane adapted for insertion into the cardiovascular system said body having a distal end and a proximal end, said body having a reduced neck section at the distal end said neck section having a proximal and a distal end and further having a port in said neck section connecting with the interior of said body, said neck section terminating in a rounded configuration; and 2. An inflatable balloon having a proximal and distal end disposed within said neck section over said port arranged to be flush with said catheter body in its deflated state, said balloon comprised of polyurethane of substantially 70A to 95A durometer and of a wall thickness of substantially 0.004 inches, said balloon arranged to inflate to a diameter of from 10 to 13 millimeters, said balloon arranged to extend at its greatest distal extremity beyond said distal end of said neck section in both its inflated and deflated states.