Convertible catheter incorporating distal force transfer mechanism

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein;
• a distal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the proximal tube operably attached to the proximal end of the distal inner tube, thereby forming an inner tube assembly;
• the inner tube assembly disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner tube assembly having an outer surface that is spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube, defining a core wire receiving lumen therebetween;
• the core wire receiving lumen having a restriction region and a non-restriction region;
• and
• a core wire disposed in the core wire receiving lumen, and operably attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire having a size and shape relative to the core wire receiving lumen such that lateral movement of the core wire is restricted more in the restriction region that in the non-restriction region.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein, the outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the distal end of the outer tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube;
• a guide wire receiving tube having a guide wire receiving lumen therein disposed in the lumen of the outer tube distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube, said guide wire receiving tube spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube thereby forming a restriction lumen therebetween;
• a core wire operable attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire extending through the restriction lumen;
• and
• the core wire having a size and shape relative to the restriction lumen such that lateral movement of the core wire is restricted more in the restriction lumen than outside of the restriction lumen.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein, the outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the distal end of the outer tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube;
• an inflation tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therethrough, the inflation tube being disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the proximal end of the inflation tube being proximal of the distal end of the proximal inner tube and the distal end of the inflation tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube
• a guide wire receiving tube having a guide wire receiving lumen therein disposed in the lumen of the outer tube distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube and proximal of the distal end of the inflation tube, said guide wire receiving tube spaced from at least a portion of the inflation tube, thereby forming a restriction lumen therebetween;
• a core wire operable attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire extending through the restriction lumen;
• and
• the core wire having a size and shape relative to the restriction lumen such that lateral movement of the core wire is restricted more in the restriction lumen than outside of the restriction lumen.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein;
• an inner tube disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner tube having an outer surface that is spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube defining a core wire receiving lumen therebetween;
• and
• a core wire disposed within the core wire receiving lumen, the core wire having a size and shape relative to the core wire receiving lumen to substantially prevent lateral movement of the core wire therein, the core wire having an outer boundary defined by the edges of a lateral cross-section of the core wire, said outer boundary engaging both the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein;
• an inner tube disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner tube having an outer surface that is spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube defining a core wire receiving lumen therebetween;
• the core wire receiving lumen having a restriction region and a non-restriction region;
• a core wire disposed within the core wire receiving lumen, the core wire having a size and shape relative to the core wire receiving lumen such that lateral movement of the core wire is restricted more in the restriction region that in the non-restriction region;
• and
• the core wire having a flattened portion at a location that corresponds to the restriction region, the flattened portion having an increased outer dimension relative to a non-flattened portion of the core wire, the flattened portion of the core wire is twisted to provide a twisted flattened portion.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein;
• a distal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the proximal tube operably attached to the proximal end of the distal inner tube, thereby forming an inner tube assembly;
• the inner tube assembly disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner tube assembly having an outer surface that is spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube, defining a core wire receiving lumen therebetween;
• the core wire receiving lumen having a restriction region and a non-restriction region;
• and
• a core wire disposed in the core wire receiving lumen, and operably attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire having a size and shape relative to the inner surface of the core wire receiving lumen to provide a frictional fit therebetween.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein, the outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the distal end of the outer tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube;
• a guide wire receiving tube having a guide wire receiving lumen therein disposed in the lumen of the outer tube distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube, said guide wire receiving tube spaced from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube thereby forming a restriction lumen therebetween;
• a core wire operable attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire extending through the restriction lumen;
• and
• the core wire having a size and shape relative to the restriction lumen such that the core wire is friction fit in the restriction lumen.

A catheter comprising:

• an outer tube having an inner surface that defines a lumen therein, the outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a proximal inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the distal end of the outer tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube;
• an inflation tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therethrough, the inflation tube being disposed within the lumen of the outer tube, the proximal end of the inflation tube being proximal of the distal end of the proximal inner tube and the distal end of the inflation tube extending distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube
• a guide wire receiving tube having a guide wire receiving lumen therein disposed in the lumen of the outer tube distally of the distal end of the proximal inner tube and proximal of the distal end of the inflation tube, said guide wire receiving tube spaced from at least a portion of the inflation tube, thereby forming a restriction lumen therebetween;
• a core wire operable attached to the proximal inner tube and extending distally therefrom, the core wire extending through the restriction lumen;
• and
• the core wire having a size and shape relative to the restriction lumen such that the core wire is friction fit in the restriction lumen.