Catheters having rapid-exchange and over-the-wire operating modes

An intravascular catheter comprising:

• an elongated shaft defined by a proximal section, an intermediate section and a distal section wherein said proximal shaft section is attached to said distal section at said intermediate section;
• a first guide wire port in said intermediate section;
• a first guide wire lumen extending therein from said first guide wire port;
• a second guide wire port at the proximal end of said proximal section;
• a second guide wire lumen extending from said second guide wire port throughout said proximal and intermediate shaft sections;
• a distal section guide wire lumen extending from said intermediate shaft section to the distal end of said distal shaft section;
• a lumen y-junction in said intermediate shaft section wherein said first guide wire lumen and said second guide wire lumen communicate in a y-junction to said distal section guide wire lumen;
• a balloon attached to said distal shaft section to perform an intravascular procedure;
• and
• an inflation lumen extending from said proximal end of said proximal shaft section to the proximal end of said balloon at a balloon opening and in fluid communication with said balloon at said balloon opening.

An intravascular catheter comprising:

• an elongated shaft defined by a proximal section, an intermediate section and a distal section wherein said proximal shaft section is attached to said distal section at said intermediate section;
• a first guide wire port at the proximal end of said proximal section;
• a guide wire lumen extending throughout said proximal, intermediate and distal shaft sections defined by a proximal section located in said proximal shaft section and a distal section located in said distal shaft section;
• a guide wire lumen slit extending the length of said proximal shaft section and which provides for a guide wire to be peeled-away from the proximal section guide wire lumen;
• a strain relief located around the circumference of said intermediate shaft section for providing resistance from the propagation of said guide wire lumen slit of said proximal section guide wire lumen into said distal section guide wire lumen of said distal shaft section;
• an expandable member attached to said distal shaft section to perform an intravascular procedure;
• and
• an inflation lumen extending from said proximal end of said proximal shaft section to the proximal end of said expandable member at an opening in said expandable member and in fluid communication with said balloon at said opening.