Catheter with progressively compliant tip

An intravascular catheter having a progressively compliant distal end region comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having an overcoat of low temperature thermoplastic thereon, said overcoat having a first softness characteristic, said catheter having a distal end region defined by:
• an endmost, low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a second softness characteristic that is significantly greater than said first softness;
• another low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a third softness characteristic that is medium with respect to said first and second softness, said other tubular section disposed between said endmost section and said overcoat;
• and,
• blended tubular regions formed by heated diffusion of said endmost section with said other tubular section and said other tubular section with said overcoat, each said blended region having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof;
• wherein at least one of said blended regions has an axial length substantially equal to an axial length of one of said endmost section and said other section.

An intravascular catheter having a progressively compliant distal end region comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having an overcoat of low temperature thermoplastic thereon, said overcoat having a first softness characteristic, said catheter having a distal end region defined by:
• an endmost, low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a second softness characteristic that is significantly greater than said first softness;
• another low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a third softness characteristic that is medium with respect to said first and second softness, said other tubular section disposed between said endmost section and said overcoat;
• and,
• blended tubular regions formed by heated diffusion of said endmost section with said other tubular section and said other tubular section with said overcoat, each said blended region having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof;
• wherein an outer dimension of said endmost and said other tubular section is substantially equivalent to an outer dimension of said overcoat.

An intravascular catheter having a progressively compliant distal end region comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having an overcoat of low temperature thermoplastic thereon, said overcoat having a first softness characteristic, said catheter having a distal end region defined by:
• an endmost, low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a second softness characteristic that is significantly greater than said first softness;
• another low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a third softness characteristic that is medium with respect to said first and second softness, said other tubular section disposed between said endmost section and said overcoat;
• and,
• blended tubular regions formed by heated diffusion of said endmost section with said other tubular section and said other tubular section with said overcoat, each said blended region having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof;
• wherein said endmost section, said other tubular section and said overcoat are color coded, each with a distinct color, and said blended regions exhibit a color blend generally indicative of said incrementally increasing softness characteristic.

An intravascular catheter having a progressively compliant distal end region comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having an overcoat of low temperature thermoplastic thereon, said overcoat having a first softness characteristic, said catheter having a distal end region defined by:
• an endmost, low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a second softness characteristic that is significantly greater than said first softness;
• another low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a third softness characteristic that is medium with respect to said first and second softness, said other tubular section disposed between said endmost section and said overcoat;
• and,
• blended tubular regions formed by heated diffusion of said endmost section with said other tubular section and said other tubular section with said overcoat, each said blended region having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof;
• wherein the blended region between said other tubular section and said overcoat contains incrementally greater amounts of said overcoat dependent upon the distance to said distal end of said catheter.

An intravascular catheter having a progressively compliant distal end region comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having an overcoat of low temperature thermoplastic thereon, said overcoat having a first softness characteristic, said catheter having a distal end region defined by:
• an endmost, low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a second softness characteristic that is significantly greater than said first softness;
• another low temperature, thermoplastic tubular section having a third softness characteristic that is medium with respect to said first and second softness, said other tubular section disposed between said endmost section and said overcoat;
• and,
• blended tubular regions formed by heated diffusion of said endmost section with said other tubular section and said other tubular section with said overcoat, each said blended region having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof;
• wherein said low temperature thermoplastic overcoat, said low temperature thermoplastic endmost section, and said low temperature thermoplastic other tubular section all melt at temperatures below approximately 300 degrees Centigrade.