Increased axial load carrying sheathed irrigating balloon catheter

A device for transnasally dilating a small, tight opening through human tissue into the nasal cavity, said device comprising:

• a tubular metallic body having a proximal extremity, a proximal segment, a distal extremity, and a distal segment and a central lumen;
• a reinforcing rod element shaped to penetrate said lumen;
• a flexible sheath coaxially engaged by said body;
• an inflatable member formed on said sheath proximate to said distal segment;
• said inflatable member being capable of dilating said opening;
• a hand-graspable plastic hub;
• a metallic collar bonded to said proximal segment;
• said hub being secured to said collar;
• wherein said sheath comprises:
• a proximal end portion secured to said hub;
• and,
• said proximal end portion separating said hub from said tubular metallic body;
• wherein said tubular body lacks sufficient stiffness and column strength in absence of said reinforcing rod element inserted through said central lumen, to enable said inflatable member, when said inflatable member is deflated, to be inserted transnasally through the naris and into a nasal cavity and subsequently pushed through forces applied on said proximal segment into said opening;
• and wherein said tubular body has sufficient stiffness and column strength while said reinforcing rod element is inserted through said central lumen, to enable said inflatable member, when said inflatable member is deflated, to be inserted transnasally through the naris and into a nasal cavity and subsequently pushed through forces applied on said proximal segment into said opening;
• and,
• wherein said distal end is separated from said proximal end a distance sufficient to allow said proximal end to remain outside the nasal cavity while said inflatable member is being pushed into said opening.