Intraluminal catheter with a composite shaft

摘要

A composite tubular element for intravascular catheters, such as fixed-wire dilatation catheters and guiding and angiographic catheters, which is formed by braiding strands formed from an intimate mixture of polymeric matrix materials, such as fibers and powders, having a relatively low melting point and high strength reinforcing fibers having a relatively high melting point into a tubular element, heating the braided tubular element to melt the low melting point matrix materials and flow around the reinforcing fibers to form a matrix. A thermoplastic jacket or coating may then be extruded or otherwise applied to the exterior of the braided tubular element.