| 摘要 |
An intraluminal catheter comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, and a distal tip having an internal taper. The distal tip has an inner surface tapering distally to an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the shaft proximal to the tapered distal tip. In one embodiment, the distal tip includes an outer surface tapering distally to an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft proximal to the tapered distal tip. In a presently preferred embodiment, the distal tip defines at least in part a guidewire receiving lumen. A method of making a catheter shaft section with an internal taper in accordance with the invention generally includes placing at least a section of a polymeric tube having a first end, a second end and a lumen therein on a section of a mandrel having a straight cylindrical surface with a substantially constant outer diameter, so that a gap exists between an inner surface of the polymeric tube and an outer surface of the mandrel. The polymeric tube on the mandrel is placed within a mold having a tapered end. The polymeric tube is heated and the first end of the polymeric tube is placed in contact with the tapered end of the mold, so that an internal taper is formed in the first end of the polymeric tube.
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