A balloon catheter including a catheter shaft, a balloon and a support assembly. The catheter shaft defines an internal shoulder and carries the balloon. The support assembly includes a first member and a second member. The second member defines opposing, leading and trailing ends, and is arranged over the first member such that the leading end is distal the trailing end. The leading end is free of direct physical attachment to the first member. The support assembly extends within a lumen of the catheter shaft and the leading end bears against the internal shoulder. A pushing force applied at a proximal region of the catheter shaft is transferred onto the internal shoulder via the support assembly. The support assembly is simple and inexpensive. Further, the leading end of the second member is transversely moveable relative to the first member, thereby minimizing possible kinking of the first member.
