CATHETER SHAFT AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE

摘要

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer (26) of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer (30) including a second polymeric material about the inner layer (26), and forming an outer layer (32) of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer (30). The plait matrix layer (30) includes a braided wire mesh (28) 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 (26) and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer (32). 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 catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.