Catheter with hypotube having exchange joint opening

Abstract

A catheter includes a metal hypotube (328) and a polymer outer jacket over the metal hypotube, wherein the metal hypotube is configured to bend with varying flexibility along a length of the metal hypotube, and wherein the metal hypotube defines a rapid exchange joint opening in an intermediate portion of the metal hypotube. A method for manufacturing a catheter includes cutting a rapid exchange joint opening in an intermediate portion of a metal hypotube and a polymer jacket over the metal hypotube, wherein the rapid exchange joint opening facilitates formation of a rapid exchange joint, and the metal hypotube is configured to bend with varying flexibility along a length of the metal hypotube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.