SELECTIVE SURFACE MODIFICATION OF CATHETER TUBING

摘要

A catheter shaft and methods for making and using the same. The catheter shaft may include a core portion, a cap portion, and one or more lumens. The cap portion may be disposed on or over a section of the core portion and define a region with a different exterior or interior surface characteristic. For example, the cap portion may define a lubricious region along the catheter shaft. Manufacturing the catheter shaft may include a modified co-extrusion process that incorporates a flow valve on at least one of the material supply lines so that the supply line can be regulated by a user.

主权项

1. A catheter shaft, comprising:
a catheter shaft comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the catheter shaft having a constant outer diameter; wherein the second portion is positioned between the first portion and the third portion; wherein the first portion includes a first material; wherein the second portion includes a first layer of the first material disposed over a second layer of a second material such that the second layer of the second material defines an inner surface of the catheter shaft; wherein the first material has a first surface characteristic and the second material has a second surface characteristic different from the first surface characteristic; and wherein the first surface characteristic is more lubricious than the second surface characteristic.