SWAGED BRAIDED CATHETER AND METHOD OF FABRICATION

• US 20120109078A1
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schaeffer, Darin G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0059 having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0012 with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Abstract

A swaged braided catheter (30) for use in various medical procedures is provided. The swaged braided catheter includes a tubular braid (32) formed from a plurality of braided wire members (38). A plurality of intersections (40) is formed by the braided wire members. The intersections are compressed defining a plurality of flattened regions along the tubular braid. The intersections have a first thickness (d1) before being compressed and a reduced second thickness (t2) after being compressed. The flattened regions with the reduced second thickness provide the swaged braided catheter with a reduced cross-sectional profile, and reduced catheter recoil.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a tubular braid having a proximal end a distal end, the tubular braid including a plurality of wire members braided together and a plurality of crossing points defined by crossing wire members of the braided wire members, wherein the crossing points are compressed defining a plurality of flattened regions along the tubular braid, the crossing points having an initial first thickness before being compressed and a second thickness after being compressed, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an inner liner positioned coaxially within and in contact with the tubular braid, the inner liner defining a lumen of the catheter, the lumen formed through the proximal and distal ends of the tubular braid.

3. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an outer sleeve positioned coaxially about and in contact with the tubular braid.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire members have a round cross-section with a first diameter, wherein the first thickness of the pre-compressed crossing points is equal to two times the first diameter, and wherein the second thickness of the compressed crossing points is approximately equal to one half of the first thickness.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire members initially have a round cross-section with a third thickness along each of their lengths such that at a point located between the flattened regions the wire members maintain the initial round cross-section with the third thickness, the wire members having a fourth thickness at the flattened regions, wherein the fourth thickness is less than the third thickness.

6. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an inner coil shaft positioned coaxially within the tubular braid.

7. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an outer coil shaft positioned coaxially about the tubular braid.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire members are formed from one of stainless steel, tungsten, gold, titanium, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, iridium, ELGILOY nickel-cobalt alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, molybdenum tungsten alloys, tantalum alloys, titanium alloys, and a mixture thereof.

9. A catheter comprising:

a tubular braid having a proximal end and a distal end and, the tubular braid comprising a plurality of braided wire members and a plurality of intersections formed by the braided wire members, wherein the intersections are compressed defining a plurality of flattened regions along the tubular braid;

an inner liner positioned coaxially within and in contact with the tubular braid, the inner liner defining a lumen of the catheter formed through the proximal and distal ends of the tubular braid; and

an outer sleeve positioned coaxially about and in contact with the tubular braid.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the intersections of the tubular braid have a first thickness before the intersections are compressed and a second thickness after the intersections are compressed, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the second thickness is approximately equal to one half of the first thickness.

12. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the catheter has a wall thickness dependent upon the second thickness of the flattened regions, a third thickness of the inner liner, and a fourth thickness of the outer sleeve.

13. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the wire members have a round cross-section with a first diameter, wherein the first thickness of the pre-compressed intersections is equal to two times the first diameter.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the first diameter is between about 0.0010 inches and about 0.0050 inches.

15. The catheter of claim 9, further comprising at least one coil shaft being positioned at least one of interior to the tubular braid and exterior to the tubular braid.

16. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the wire members are formed from one of stainless steel, tungsten, gold, titanium, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, iridium, ELGILOY nickel-cobalt alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, molybdenum tungsten alloys, tantalum alloys, titanium alloys, and a mixture thereof.