US 5,860,963 A · Guiding catheter

Abstract

A catheter is disclosed having a proximal shaft formed from an inner liner formed from a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, an outer jacket formed from a blend of nylon and polyether block amide or polyether block amide alone, and a soft flexible tip affixed to the distal end of the proximal shaft formed from polyether block amide. A stem may be located between the proximal shaft and the soft flexible tip. The stem has an outer jacket formed from a proximal stem transition sleeve with a tapered distal end and a distal stem sleeve with a complementary tapered proximal end connected to the tapered distal end of the proximal stem transition sleeve. The stem transition sleeve and the stem sleeve are both formed from polyether block amide alone or a blend of polyether block amide and nylon. The outer jacket may be the same hardness as or harder than the stem transition sleeve which in turn is harder than the stem sleeve and the soft flexible tip. An intermediate wire mesh braid extends through the proximal shaft and, if desired, through the stem.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A catheter comprising:

an elongate proximal tube having a proximal end and a distal end with an exposed innermost liner formed from a material consisting essentially of a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, an intermediate reinforcing layer and an outer jacket formed from a material including a blend of nylon and polyether block amide or polyether block amide alone;
and
a soft flexible tip formed from a material including polyether block amide affixed to the distal end of the elongate proximal tube;
wherein the catheter is stable upon exposure to gamma radiation.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Guiding catheter

Life of this patent

Guiding catheter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38