VASCULAR MICROCATHETER

摘要

There is provided a microcatheter with a tapering wall thickness shaft having varying stiffness/flexibility along its length from proximal end near the medical practitioner to the distal end near the target site in the patient, such as with at least three segments. The shaft is prepared of a thermoplastic material having varying composition along its length. The distal end may be shaped according to the required use just prior to the medical procedure. The microcatheter is particularly adapted for the delivery of microspheric compositions for treatment of tumors or fibroids by embolization of peripheral blood vessels of the tumor or fibroid.

主权项

1. A medical instrument for accessing a blood vessel of a patient, comprising
a hub having a proximal and distal end; a luer adapter disposed at the proximal end for connecting with medical equipment; a shaft extending from the hub distal end and having a lumen, the shaft having:
(i) a tapering wall having a length and at least three braid sections having different winding pitches comprising a relatively low winding pitch at the proximal end and a relatively higher winding pitch at the distal end; and(ii) said wall having varying flexibility along its length from relatively stiffer at said proximal end having a relatively high Shore D value and a relatively lower flexibility at the distal end having a relatively lower Shore D value.