Easily exchangeable catheter system

A readily exchangeable balloon dilatation catheter comprising:

• a) an elongated, high strength proximal tubular member which is formed of hypotubing, which has proximal and distal ends and which has an inner lumen extending therein;
• b) a flexible distal tubular member which is secured to the distal end of the high strength proximal tubular member, which has an inflation lumen extending longitudinally therein with a proximal end in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the high strength proximal tubular member and a distal end with an inflation port therein, and which has a guidewire receiving inner lumen extending longitudinally between a first guidewire port and a distal guidewire port in the distal end thereof, the proximal guidewire port being spaced longitudinally from the distal port in the distal end and having an entry angel of not more than about 30.degree.;
• and
• c) an inflatable, relatively inelastic balloon on the distal tubular member having a distal end sealingly bonded about the distal end of the distal tubular member and an interior which is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen through the inflation port thereof.