Catheter balloon having improved balloon bonding

A method of making a balloon catheter, comprising:

• a) positioning a balloon having an inner layer and an outer layer over a distal section of a catheter shaft, the outer layer having an inner surface with at least a section gas plasma-etched or chemical solution-etched;
• and
• b) bonding proximal and distal end sections of the balloon to the shaft to form the balloon catheter having at least a portion of the gas-plasma etched inner surface of the outer layer of the balloon bonded to the shaft.

A balloon catheter, comprising:

• a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inflation lumen;
• and
• b) a balloon on a distal shaft section, having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen of the shaft, and having a proximal and a distal skirt section bonded to the shaft and an inflatable section therebetween, and a first and a second layer extending from the proximal skirt section to the distal skirt section, the proximal skirt section of the balloon being formed at least in part by a proximal end section of the first layer bonded to an outer surface of the shaft and a proximal end section of the second layer bonded to an inner surface of the shaft.