INTERVENTIONAL MEDICAL DEVICE COMPONENT HAVING AN INTERRUPTED SPIRAL SECTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A component for use as or incorporation within a medical instrument navigable through body vessels of a human subject is provided. The component includes a tubular portion with an interrupted spiral defined by alternating cut and uncut sections. The interrupted spiral has a rigidity between that of a continuous cut spiral and an uncut tube. The rigidity of the interrupted spiral along its length may be varied by changing its pitch or the number of bridge members or the length of each bridge member. According to a method of manufacturing such a component, a tubular member and a cutting member are provided. At least one of the tubular member and the cutting member is moved though an angle defining a helical path with respect to the other, while the cutting member is alternated between cutting and not cutting the tubular member to form an interrupted spiral.