Peelable Atraumatic Tip and Body For a Catheter or Sheath

摘要

A splittable/peelable tubular body ( 2 ) of a catheter or sheath wherein the tubular body ( 2 ) has a splittable/peelable atraumatic tip ( 14 ) is disclosed. The atraumatic tip ( 4 ) is generally softer than the tubular body ( 2 ). The tubular body ( 2 ) and atraumatic tip ( 4 ) each comprise a peel mechanism longitudinally extending along their respective lengths. The peel mechanisms are formed by longitudinally extending regions of interfacial bonding ( 11 ) between first and second longitudinally extending strips ( 8, 10 ) of polymer material. Each strip ( 8, 10 ) forms at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the tubular body ( 2 ) and atraumatic tip ( 4 ). A region of stress concentration extends along the region of interfacial bonding. The stress concentration facilitates the splitting of the tubular body ( 2 ) and atraumatic tip ( 4 ) along their respective peel mechanisms.