摘要 |
Herein is disclosed a reinforced catheter system that includes a reinforcement layer (38) including a helical strand (40), wherein the helical strand (48) has a stiffness of about 30 % to about 100 % greater than the stiffness of other helical strands used for reinforcing the catheter. The catheter may include a single reinforcement layer or multiple layers. Advantageously, the catheter provides for enhanced kink resistance for navigation of small and/or tortuous vascular channels, and provides enhanced hoop strength for protecting catheter integrity when the device is subjected to increased pressure within its lumen, for example, during the delivery of intravascular agents.
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