Single segment microcatheter
AssigneeMicro Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorsSean L. Chow, Donald J. Kolehmainen, George Robert Green, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single segment catheter has a gradually changing flexibility from a distal to a proximal end of the catheter. According to one embodiment the catheter includes a plurality of strands within the catheter tube wall which change in diameter between the distal and proximal ends to achieve a catheter having a more flexible distal end and a continuously changing flexibility along the catheter length with no joints or distinct changes in flexibility.
Claims24
A single segment catheter having changing flexibility along the length of the catheter comprising:
- a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter tube having a catheter tube wall defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
- and
- at least one strand within the tube wall, said at least one strand extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube, said at least one strand having a changing diameter from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube and having a stiffness different from a stiffness of the material of the catheter tube.
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising:
- extruding a tubular member having a catheter wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material and surrounded by the first material;
- and
- varying the diameter of the plurality of strands during extrusion of the tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising:
- extruding a tubular member having a wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material;
- heating the extruded tubular member;
- and
- stretching the heated tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
A single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter comprising:
- a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the composition of the catheter gradually changing from LDPE at the distal end to HDPE at the proximal end to provide a catheter tube having a stiffness at the distal end which is less than a stiffness at the proximal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.