Catheter With Embedded Core Wires And Shaping Ribbons

A catheter, comprising:

• a) a catheter body comprising a thickness extending outwardly from a catheter body inner wall to a catheter body outer wall, wherein the catheter body inner wall defines a catheter lumen extending longitudinally from a catheter body proximal end to a catheter body distal end;
• b) a first pair of core wires embedded in the thickness of the catheter body, the first pair of core wires comprising a first core wire and a second core wire on opposite sides of the catheter lumen,
• i) wherein the first core wire comprises at least a first core wire first tapered portion intermediate a first core wire proximal cylindrical portion and a first core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion, and wherein a first shaping ribbon resides in the catheter body adjacent to the first core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion, and
• ii) wherein the second core wire comprises at least a second core wire first tapered portion intermediate a second core wire proximal cylindrical portion and a second core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion, and wherein a second shaping ribbon resides in the catheter body adjacent to the second core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion.

A catheter, comprising:

• a) a catheter body comprising a thickness extending outwardly from a catheter body inner wall to a catheter body outer wall, wherein the catheter body inner wall defines a catheter lumen extending longitudinally from a catheter body proximal end to a catheter body distal end;
• b) a helically-wound spring embedded in the thickness of the catheter body, the helically-wound spring extending from a first helically-wound spring proximal end spaced distally from the catheter proximal end to a helically-wound spring distal end spaced proximally from the catheter distal end;
• c) a first core wire comprising a first core wire first tapered portion intermediate a first core wire proximal cylindrical portion having a first core wire proximal end disposed adjacent to but spaced distally from the catheter body proximal end, and a first core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion having a first core wire distal end disposed adjacent to but spaced proximally from the catheter body distal end, wherein the first core wire distal ribbon-shaped portion is at least partially housed inside the helically-wound spring;
• and
• d) a first shaping ribbon embedded in the thickness of the catheter body adjacent to the first core wire distal end, the first shaping ribbon being disposed adjacent to but proximal the catheter body distal end.