Reinforced Catheter Or Sheath With Reduced Friction Surface
AssigneesCook Incorporated, Sabin Corporation
InventorsDavid Christian Lentz, David A. Drewes, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reinforced catheter or sheath includes an inner tube manufactured via an extrusion process from a mixture of thermoplastic and hollow glass beads. The resultant tube exhibits an inner goose bump surface that defines a central lumen. A reinforcement, such as a braid and/or coil is attached to at least a segment of the outer surface of the inner tube. A second tube of thermoplastic is extruded over at least a portion of the reinforcement. The inner goose bump surface exhibits a net low coefficient of friction comparable to that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Claims21
A reinforced catheter or sheath comprising:
- a mixture, which includes thermoplastic and beads, defining a first tube with an inner goose bump surface defined by the thermoplastic and an outer surface, and the inner goose bump surface includes randomly distributed rounded protuberances rising out of a smooth base surface, and the beads are encased in the thermoplastic;
- a reinforcement attached to at least a segment of the outer surface;
- a second tube covering at least a portion of the reinforcement;
- and
- wherein the inner goose bump surface reduces a contact area between the thermoplastic of the first tube and another medical device slid therethrough to produce an apparent low friction.
A method of making a reinforced catheter or sheath, comprising the steps of:
- extruding a mixture of thermoplastic and beads into a first tube with an inner goose bump surface defined by the thermoplastic, and the inner goose bump surface includes randomly distributed rounded protuberances rising out of a smooth base surface, and the beads are encased in the thermplastic;
- attaching a reinforcement to at least a segment of an outer surface of the first tube;
- extruding a second tube over at least a portion of the reinforcement;
- and
- wherein the inner goose bump surface reduces a contact area between the thermoplastic of the first tube and another medical device slid therethrough to produce an apparent low friction.
(canceled)
A medical device assembly comprising:
- a reinforced catheter or sheath with a lumen defined by a goose bump surface of thermoplastic, and including a reinforcement positioned between the goose bump surface and an outer surface, and the goose bump surface includes randomly distributed rounded protuberances rising out of a smooth base surface;
- and
- a balloon catheter slidably positioned in the lumen of the reinforced catheter or sheath;
- wherein the inner goose bump surface reduces a contact area between the thermoplastic of the reinforced catheter and ballon catheter slid therethrough to produce an apparent low friction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.