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US 6,858,024 B1Granted
Guide catheter having selected flexural modulus segments
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsTodd A. Berg, Jason A. Galdonik
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsTodd A. Berg, Jason A. Galdonik
Estimating the term…
A guiding catheter for use in coronary angioplasty and other cardiovascular interventions which incorporates a plurality of segment of selected flexural modulus in the shaft of the device. The segments which have a different flexibility than the sections immediately proximal and distal to them, creating zones in the catheter shaft which are either more or less flexible than other zones of the shaft. The flexibility and length of the shaft in a given zone is then matched to its clinical function and role. A mid-shaft zone is significantly softer than a proximal shaft or distal secondary curve to better traverse the aortic arch shape without storing too much energy. A secondary zone section is designed to have maximum stiffness to provide optimum backup support and stability.
A guide catheter comprising a tubular shaft having an inner lubricious layer and a coextending reinforcement layer, the shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft further having a proximal region, a distal region and a transition region therebetween, the lubricious layer and the coextending reinforcing layer extending through the proximal region, the distal region and the transition region of the shaft, the transition region including a means for imparting differential flexibility to the transition region such that the transition region is either more flexible than both the proximal region and the distal region or the transition region is less flexible than both the proximal region and the distal region, wherein the differential flexibility imparting means comprises an outer polymer layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.