Method for stabilizing balloon during dilatation

1. A method of securing a catheter inner tube to a guidewire disposed in the inner tube comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter comprising an inner tube with a guidewire therein, a medical balloon and an inflation lumen, the inner tube being a solitary tube within the medical balloon and having a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen being a solitary lumen within the inner tube, wherein the guidewire is within the guidewire lumen and is isolated from the inflation lumen over the entire length of the guidewire, the medical balloon disposed about the inner tube and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, wherein a collapsible portion of the inner tube is constructed to collapse inward upon delivery of an inflation fluid to the medical balloon and grip the guidewire and to release from the guidewire upon removal of the inflation fluid;

delivering an inflation fluid to the medical balloon to cause the collapsible portion of the inner tube to collapse inward against the guidewire and secure the inner tube to the guidewire.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of releasing the inner tube from the guidewire by withdrawing the inflation fluid from the medical balloon.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the catheter further comprises a prosthesis disposed about the medical balloon.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the prosthesis is a stent.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of releasing the inner tube from the guidewire by withdrawing the inflation fluid from the medical balloon.

6. A method of dilating a vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter comprising an inner tube with a guidewire therein, a medical balloon and an inflation lumen, the inner tube being a solitary tube within the medical balloon and having a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen being a solitary lumen within the inner tube, wherein the guidewire is within the guidewire lumen and is isolated from the inflation lumen over the entire length of the guidewire, the medical balloon disposed about the inner tube and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, wherein a collapsible portion of the inner tube is constructed to collapse inward upon delivery of an inflation fluid to the medical balloon and grip the guidewire and to release from the guidewire upon removal of the inflation fluid;

inserting the balloon catheter in a body and delivering the medical balloon to a desired location in a bodily vessel;

inflating the medical balloon to a pressure sufficient to apply a force to the vessel by supplying an inflation fluid to the medical balloon, the supplying of inflation fluid causing the collapsible portion of the inner tube to collapse inward against the guidewire and secure the inner tube to the guidewire.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of releasing the inner tube from the guidewire by withdrawing the inflation fluid from the medical balloon.

8. A method of delivering a prosthesis to a desired location in a bodily vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter comprising an inner tube with a guidewire therein, a medical balloon, an inflation lumen, and a prosthesis disposed about the medical balloon, the inner tube being a solitary tube within the medical balloon and having a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen being a solitary lumen within the inner tube, wherein the guidewire is within the guidewire lumen and is isolated from the inflation lumen over the entire length of the guidewire, the medical balloon disposed about the inner tube and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, wherein a collapsible portion of the inner tube is constructed to collapse inward upon delivery of an inflation fluid to the medical balloon and grip the guidewire and to release from the guidewire upon removal of the inflation fluid;

inserting the balloon catheter in a body and delivering the medical balloon to a desired location in a bodily vessel;

inflating the medical balloon to a pressure sufficient to expand the prosthesis and implant the prosthesis in the vessel by supplying an inflation fluid to the medical balloon, the supplying of inflation fluid causing the collapsible portion of the inner tube to collapse inward against the guidewire and secure the inner tube to the guidewire.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

withdrawing the inflation fluid from the medical balloon to release the inner tube from the guidewire; and

withdrawing the balloon catheter from the body.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the prosthesis is a stent.