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US 2011/0238041 A1Published application
Variable flexibility catheter
AssigneeChestnut Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsElaine Zhao Lim, Quang Quoc Tran, Ting Tina Ye
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Abstract
A multi-layered catheter is provided, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough. The catheter can have various sections of different flexibility extending distally along the length of the catheter. The catheter can have four layers along a proximal portion, and three layers along a distal portion. In some embodiments, the layers can comprise at least a stainless steel coil and a stainless steel braid. The catheter can exhibit both flexibility as well as kink resistance.
Claims19
A variable flexibility catheter comprising:
- an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therethrough, the elongate tubular body comprising:
- a proximal portion comprising:
- a proximal portion outer jacket layer having a first stiffness, a braided stainless steel layer extending within the proximal portion outer jacket layer, a stainless steel coil layer extending within the braided material layer, and a low friction polymer PTFE layer extending within the stainless steel coil layer;
- an intermediate portion distal to the proximal portion comprising:
- an intermediate portion outer jacket layer having a second stiffness, a portion of the braided stainless steel layer extending within the intermediate portion outer jacket layer, a portion of the stainless steel coil layer extending within the braided stainless steel layer, and a portion of the low friction polymer PTFE layer extending within the stainless steel coil layer;
- a taper portion distal to the intermediate portion comprising:
- a tapered outer jacket layer having a third stiffness, a portion of the stainless steel coil layer extending within the tapered outer jacket layer, and a taper portion low friction polymer PTFE layer extending within the stainless steel coil layer;
- a distal portion distal to the taper portion comprising:
- a distal portion outer jacket layer having a fourth stiffness, a portion of the stainless steel coil layer extending within the distal portion outer jacket layer, and a portion of the low friction polymer PTFE layer extending within the stainless steel coil layer;
- wherein the second stiffness is less than the first stiffness, the third stiffness is less than the second stiffness, and the fourth stiffness is less than the third stiffness;
- and
- wherein the stainless steel coil layer extending within the distal portion has a coil pitch of approximately 0.007″ or more along at least one portion of the coil layer.
9 more elements
A variable flexibility catheter comprising:
- an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therethrough, the elongate tubular body comprising:
- a proximal portion comprising:
- a proximal portion outer jacket layer having a first stiffness, a braided material layer extending within the proximal portion outer jacket layer, a coil layer extending within the braided material layer, and a low friction polymer material layer extending within the coil layer;
- an intermediate portion distal to the proximal portion comprising:
- an intermediate portion outer jacket layer having a second stiffness, a portion of the braided material layer extending within the intermediate portion outer jacket layer, a portion of the coil layer extending within the braided material layer, and a portion of the low friction polymer material layer extending within the coil layer;
- a taper portion distal to the intermediate portion comprising:
- a tapered outer jacket layer having a third stiffness, a portion of the coil layer extending within the tapered outer jacket layer, and a taper portion low friction polymer material layer extending within the coil layer;
- a distal portion distal to the taper portion comprising:
- a distal portion outer jacket layer having a fourth stiffness, a portion of the coil layer extending within the distal portion outer jacket layer, and a portion of the low friction polymer material layer extending within the coil layer;
- wherein the second stiffness is less than the first stiffness, the third stiffness is less than the second stiffness, and the fourth stiffness is less than the third stiffness.
7 more elements
A variable flexibility catheter comprising:
- an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therethrough, the elongate tubular body comprising:
- a proximal portion comprising four layers;
- a distal portion comprising three layers;
- wherein the outer diameter of the distal portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal portion, and wherein the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.