Balloon connection and inflation lumen for atherectomy catheter

A catheter comprising:

• a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
• a substantially rigid elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body;
• an isolation tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends, wherein the isolation tube is disposed inside the lumen of the catheter body so that an outer surface of the isolation tube and inner surface of the catheter body lumen together, define an annular inflation lumen and wherein the isolation tube is secured at its distal end to the proximal end of the housing to isolate the housing from the annular inflation lumen;
• and
• an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing and connected to the annular inflation lumen, whereby the balloon can be inflated by applying an inflation medium to the proximal end of the annular lumen.

A catheter comprising:

• a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
• an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body;
• an interactional mechanism disposed on one side of the housing;
• and
• an inflatable balloon composed of a thermoplastic and having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing on a side generally opposite to that of the interactional mechanisms wherein the balloon includes an integral flange structure which is disposed through an inflation aperture in the housing and which has been formed against an interior surface of the housing by the contact with a heated mandrel, whereby the flange conforms to said interior surface and the balloon can be inflated through the lumen of the catheter body and the flange structure.