Catheter with protective covering
AssigneeBiosense Webster, Inc.
InventorJason P. Schoenholtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catheter has a shaft with a water-resistant protective covering along its length. The covering protects the catheter shaft, i.e., catheter body and tip section, from the elements of in vivo conditions, i.e., blood and other body fluids, and reduces softening of the catheter over time. The covering also adds a lubricious surface to increase the mobility of the catheter. However, the protective covering does not substantially affect the mechanical properties of the catheter. The covering extends over at least about 50% of the shaft. The covering has a thickness less than about 0.004 inch and is formed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.
Claims56
A catheter having a shaft comprising a flexible plastic tubing having an outer surface and at least one lumen therethrough, wherein the flexible plastic tubing is provided with a covering over at least about 50% of the catheter shaft, wherein the covering has an inner surface and the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the outer surface of the flexible plastic tubing, and further wherein the covering has a thickness less than about 0.004 inch and is formed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.
A catheter comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a catheter body comprising a first flexible plastic tubing having an outer surface, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough;
- a catheter tip section comprising a second flexible plastic tubing mounted at the distal end of the catheter body having an outer surface and at least one lumen extending therethrough, wherein the second flexible tubing is more flexible than the first flexible plastic tubing;
- and
- a protective covering over at least 50% of the shaft, wherein the covering has an inner surface and the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the outer surface of the first flexible plastic tubing and/or the outer surface of the second flexible plastic tubing, and further wherein the covering is formed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.;
- and
- a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body.
A catheter comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough, the catheter body comprising:
- an outer wall formed of a flexible plastic;
- an inner wall formed of a flexible plastic;
- and
- a reinforcement member between the outer wall and the inner wall;
- a catheter tip section mounted on the distal end of the catheter body and having at least one lumen extending therethrough, the tip section comprising:
- an outer wall formed of a flexible plastic;
- an inner core formed of a flexible plastic;
- and
- a reinforcement member between the outer wall and the inner core;
- wherein the tip section is more flexible than the catheter body;
- and
- a protective covering over at least 50% of the shaft, wherein the covering is formed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.;
- and
- a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body.
A catheter having a shaft comprising a flexible plastic tubing having an outer surface and at least one lumen therethrough, wherein the flexible plastic tubing is provided with a covering over at least about 90% of the catheter shaft, wherein the covering has an inner surface and the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the outer surface of the flexible plastic tubing, and further wherein the covering is formed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C., and further wherein the percent difference in the bending stiffness of the catheter when provided with the covering compared to the same catheter without a covering is less than about 5% when the catheter is bent at an angle of about 60°.
A catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough;
- a basket electrode array mounted at the distal end of the catheter body, the basket electrode array comprising a plurality of flexible arms having distal and proximal ends, said arms being connected at their proximal and distal ends, each arm comprising a plastic material carrying at least one electrode, wherein the plastic material of each arm is provided with a protective covering over its length, the protective covering having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.
A catheter having a shaft comprising a flexible plastic tubing having an outer surface and at least one lumen therethrough, wherein the flexible plastic tubing is provided with a covering over at least about 90% of the catheter shaft, wherein the covering has an inner surface and the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the outer surface of the flexible plastic tubing, and further wherein the covering is formed of a material such that the Improvement Value in the bending stiffness of the catheter after being soaked for 1 hour in 37° C. distilled water that is imparted by the covering when the catheter is bent over an angle of 60° is at least about 50%.
A catheter comprising:
- a catheter shaft comprising a flexible plastic tubing made of a first material having an outer surface and at least one lumen therethrough;
- and
- a protective covering made of a second material over at least 50% of the catheter shaft, wherein the covering has an inner surface and the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the outer surface of the flexible plastic tubing, and further wherein the second material has a lower water vapor transmission rate than the first material.
A method for increasing the water resistance of a catheter having a shaft, comprising providing a covering over at least 50% of the shaft with a material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 9.0 g-mil/100 in2-24 hr at about 90% relative humidity and about 37° C.
A method for increasing the water resistance of a catheter having a shaft, comprising providing a covering over at least 90% of the shaft with a material that results in an Improvement Value in the bending stiffness of the catheter after being soaked for 1 hour in 37° C. distilled water that is imparted by the covering when the catheter is bent over an angle of 60° of at least about 50%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.