Catheter with composite stiffener

摘要

A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.

主权项

1. A medical device, comprising:
an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal region and a distal region; a first stiffener disposed along both the proximal region and the distal region; wherein the first stiffener includes a non-metallic ribbon extending at least partially circumferentially about the catheter shaft; a second stiffener disposed along the proximal region, the second stiffener including a metallic ribbon, wherein the first stiffener is interwoven together with the second stiffener; wherein the distal region of the catheter shaft is free of the second stiffener; wherein the catheter shaft has a first flexibility along the proximal region; and wherein the catheter shaft has a second flexibility along the distal region that is different from the first flexibility.