An improved intra-aortic balloon catheter (30) with a balloon membrane (34), a tip (40), a co-lumen extruded tube (32) having an inner lumen (68) whose proximal portion lies between the inner and outer surfaces of the co-lumen extruded tube (32) and whose distal portion is defined by the inner surface of a Nitinol inner tube (38), and a retainer (82). The co-lumen extruded tube (32) material is 0-70 % by weight a PELLETHANE material having a hardness of 75D, 30-60 % by weight a PELLETHANE material having a hardness of 65D, and 0-50 % by weight a Pellethane material having a hardness of 55D. The tip (40) has a bulbous portion (43) and is made from ESTANE material group 58887 and has a hardness less than or equal to 90A so as to allow for better guide wire tracking. The balloon membrane (34) is coated with silicone liquid, such as MDX, and has a double-wall thickness within a range of 0.006 inches to 0.0008 inches so as to allow for a tighter wrap of the ballon membrane (34) about the Nitinol inner tube (38). The retainer (82) is made from a low friction PTFE material, such as Teflon, so as to allow for easy removal of the tightly wrapped balloon membrane (34). The retainer (82) also has wings (84) which snap under horizontal ribs (146) and fit between vertical ribs (144) in an improved packaging tray (138) and thereby secure the retainer (82) within said improved packaging tray (138).
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