Intravascular device and method of manufacture and use
OwnerLee R. Bolduc, Gilbert S. Laroya +1inventors
InventorsLee R. Bolduc, Gilbert S. Laroya, B. Douglas Lewis
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Abstract
An intravascular device and method of constructing an intravascular device. The device has a proximal portion which is stiffer than a distal portion. The device of the present invention may also be advanced through small vessels without the aid of a guidewire although a guidewire may be used when necessary. The device may be manufactured in a number of different ways and a preferred method is to use an expanded PTFE liner at the distal portion and an etched PTFE liner along the proximal portion. The device also has a number of different jacket sections, preferably at least four, with increasing durometer towards the proximal end and a braided section with varying pic along the length.
Claims86
A method of forming an intravascular device, comprising the steps of:
- mounting an expanded PTFE liner over a first mandrel portion;
- winding a reinforcing layer over the expanded PTFE liner after the mounting step;
- and
- applying a first jacket over the reinforcing layer and expanded PTFE liner after the winding and mounting steps.
An intravascular device, comprising:
- a liner layer having a first liner section, the first liner section being made of expanded PTFE;
- a reinforcing layer wound over the liner layer;
- and
- a jacket positioned over the reinforcing layer and fused with the liner layer.
An intravascular device for accessing small diameter, tortuous vessels, comprising:
- a shaft having a stiffness transition zone, the stiffness transition zone extending 20 to 30 cm from the distal end, the stiffness of the device increasing no more than 600% over any 4 cm portion of the stiffness transition zone;
- and
- at least one lumen extending through the shaft.
A method of advancing an intravascular device into small diameter, tortuous vessels, comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a cross-sectional size of 0.77 to 7.1 mm2;
- introducing the catheter into the patient vascular system;
- and
- advancing the catheter through vessels having a diameter of 3 mm to 5 mm without advancing the catheter over a guidewire.
A method of forming an intravascular device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mandrel;
- mounting a first liner on the mandrel;
- winding a reinforcing layer over the first liner;
- positioning a first jacket, a second jacket and a third jacket over the reinforcing layer, the second jacket being positioned between the first and third jackets, the first jacket having a durometer which is at least 13 D less than the third jacket, the second jacket having a durometer between the first and third jackets;
- and
- fusing at least the first, second and third jackets to the liner to encase the reinforcing layer between the first liner and the first, second and third jackets.
An intravascular device, comprising:
- a shaft having a lumen extending therethrough;
- a reinforcing layer embedded in the shaft;
- and
- the shaft having a first jacket, a second jacket and a third jacket covering the at least one reinforcing element, the second jacket being positioned between the first and third jackets, the first jacket having a durometer which is at least 13 D less than the third jacket, the second jacket having a durometer between the first and third jackets.
An intravascular device for accessing small, tortuous vessels, comprising:
- a shaft having at least four sections of varying stiffness, the shaft becoming more stiff proximally;
- and
- a lumen extending through the shaft.
A method of advancing a catheter through small, tortuous vessels, comprising the steps:
- providing a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion extending at least 10 cm from the distal end and the proximal portion extending within 40 cm from the distal end or closer, the proximal portion being at least 20 times stiffer than the distal portion, the catheter having a lumen with the lumen along the distal portion having a diameter of 0.040 to 0.060 inch;
- introducing the catheter into a patient;
- and
- advancing the catheter through the patient's vasculature to a desired site.
A method of advancing a catheter into small diameter vessels, comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the catheter also having a lumen extending through the proximal and distal portions, the lumen along the distal portion having an inner diameter of 0.040 to 0.050 inch;
- introducing the catheter into a patient's vascular system;
- and
- advancing the catheter through vessels having a size of less than 5 mm without the aid of a guidewire.
A method of forming a catheter, comprising the steps of:
- providing a liner layer;
- wrapping a reinforcing layer over the liner;
- positioning a jacket over the reinforcing layer, the jacket having a plurality of jacket sections increasing in flexural modulus at least 25 times from a distal section to a proximal section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.