Reinforcement layer for intraluminal imaging device

An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging catheter, comprising:

• a catheter body configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of a patient, the catheter body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• an ultrasound scanner assembly comprising a circumferential array of acoustic elements configured to obtain ultrasound imaging data while positioned within the blood vessel, wherein the ultrasound scanner assembly is coupled to and positioned distally of the distal portion of the catheter body, wherein the distal portion of the catheter body comprises a first polymer with a first hardness;
• and
• a reinforcement layer extending over and directly contacting only a region of the distal portion of the catheter body, wherein the region is spaced proximally from a proximal end of the ultrasound scanner assembly, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a second polymer with a different, second hardness less than the first hardness such that the region is bendable within a tortuous portion of the blood vessel without kinking.