US 5,318,032 AGranted

Guiding catheter having soft tip

AssigneeDevices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.

InventorsMichael T. Lonsbury, Richard S. Jaraczewski, Fred H. Co

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Abstract

A vascular guiding catheter comprises an inner tubular member having a torque transmitting member formed over a major portion thereof and a soft polymeric tip formed at the distal end thereof. The torque transmitting member provides the characteristics of torsional stiffness and axial flexibility which are necessary to be able to introduce the catheter to the vascular system. The soft polymeric tip reduces the likelihood that the catheter can injure the blood vessel and provides a convenient location for the inclusion of perfusion ports. A reinforcement layer is provided over a transition region between the termination of the torque transmitting member and the soft distal tip. Optionally, reinforcement layers may be provided elsewhere along the length of the catheter.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A guiding catheter comprising;

an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter;
a torque transmitting member including a braided tubular structure disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof;
a reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material extending over at least a portion of the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member;
and
an outer layer including a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 40D to 90D extending over the torque transmitting member and impregnating the tubular structure, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.