Catheter shaft and method of its manufacture

摘要

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft, comprising the steps of:
forming a layer of a first melt-processable polymer; forming a plait matrix layer adjacent the first melt-processable polymer layer and extending continuously along a length of the first melt-processable polymer layer, the plait matrix layer including a braided wire mesh embedded in a matrix material comprising a second melt-processable polymer; and forming a layer of a third melt-processable polymer adjacent the plait matrix layer, wherein the second melt-processable polymer has a lower flexural modulus and a higher yield strain than at least one of the first melt-processable polymer and the third melt-processable polymer, and wherein at least one of the first melt-processable polymer, the second melt-processable polymer, and the third melt-processable polymer comprises a particulate radiopaque filler material.