Perfusion balloon catheter

A catheter assembly comprising:

• a first inner catheter coupled to a first lumen;
• a guide wire extending through said first inner catheter;
• a second outer catheter surrounding and coaxial with said first inner catheter, said second outer catheter coupled to a second lumen;
• a balloon coupled to said second catheter, said balloon comprising a first cylindrical outer wall and a second cylindrical inner wall disposed within and coupled to said first outer wall such that a cavity is defined between aid first and second walls and an open central passage is defined interiorly of said second wall, said first outer wall having an opening therein for fluid connection to said second lumen through said second outer catheter;
• said second lumen for providing inflating fluid to said balloon through said opening in said first outer wall, and
• wherein said first and second catheters are disposed so as to leave said central passage free of obstructions and permit free flow through said passage.

A method of producing blood flow in a stenotic region of a blood vessel comprising the steps of:

• inserting a catheter assembly into said blood vessel, said catheter assembly having a first inner catheter coupled to a first lumen, a guide wire extending through said first inner catheter, and a second outer catheter surrounding and coaxial with said first inner catheter, said second outer catheter coupled to a second lumen;
• inflating at said stenotic region a balloon coupled to said second outer catheter to compress said stenotic region, said balloon comprising a first cylindrical outer wall and a second cylindrical inner wall disposed within and coupled to said first outer wall such that a cavity is defined between said first and second walls;
• channeling blood flow through said balloon at a flow channel defined within said second cylindrical inner wall when said balloon is inflated, said first and second catheters being disposed so as to leave said flow channel free of obstructions;
• whereby blood flow is maintained when said balloon is inflated.