Catheter devices and methods for making them

A method for making a tubular body using a braiding apparatus comprising a plurality of horn gears rotatably mounted around a central axis in a predetermined arrangement such that the horn gears rotate about respective horn gear axes and carriers travel along a generally circular path around the central axis during operation of the braiding apparatus, the method comprising:

• directing an elongate first mandrel through a first passage aligned with a first horn gear axis of a first horn gear of the horn gears towards the central axis;
• wrapping reinforcement members from the carriers around the first mandrel to create a braided assembly having a braiding configuration where at least one of a density and a pitch angle of the reinforcement members vary around a periphery of the first mandrel;
• applying an outer jacket around the braided assembly to provide a tubular body;
• and
• removing the first mandrel to define a first lumen within the tubular body.

A method for making a tubular body using a braiding apparatus comprising a plurality of horn gears rotatably mounted around a central axis in a predetermined arrangement such that the horn gears rotate about respective horn gear axes and carriers travel along a generally circular path around the central axis during operation of the braiding apparatus, the method comprising:

• directing a plurality of elongate mandrels through passages aligned with horn gear axes of respective horn gears of the horn gears towards the central axis;
• wrapping reinforcement members from the carriers around the mandrels to create a braided assembly having a braiding configuration where at least one of a density and a pitch angle of the reinforcement members vary around a periphery of the mandrels;
• applying an outer jacket around the braided assembly to provide a tubular body;
• and
• removing the mandrels to define respective lumens within the tubular body.

A tubular device for a catheter or sheath comprising a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, the tubular device comprising:

• a lumen extending at least partially between the proximal and distal ends;
• a plurality of reinforcement members comprising windings extending helically around the lumen at least partially between the proximal and distal ends;
• and
• one or more layers surrounding the one or more reinforcement members,
• wherein the reinforcement members have a braiding configuration where at least one of a density and a pitch angle of the reinforcement members vary around a periphery of the lumen.