Catheter having distal fiber braid

• US 5,899,892 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidlund, Robert M., Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr., Kusz, David A., Pray, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/966,131
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 604/280, 604/281, 604/282, 604/50, 604/51, 604/264
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0052 Localized reinforcement, e.g. where only a specific part of the catheter is reinforced, for rapid exchange guidewire port
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0125 Catheters carried by the bloodstream, e.g. with parachutes; Balloon catheters specially designed for this purpose

Abstract

A catheter includes a manifold and a proximal shaft portion coupled to the manifold. A distal shaft portion is coupled to a distal end of the proximal shaft portion and is flexible relative to the proximal shaft portion. A fiber reinforcement layer is disposed about the distal shaft portion.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

a manifold;

a proximal shaft portion coupled to the manifold;

a distal shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the proximal shaft portion and being flexible relative to the proximal shaft portion; and

a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fiber braid disposed about the distal shaft portion wherein the LCP fiber braid includes a plurality of fibers disposed on the distal shaft portion.

2. A catheter, comprising:

a manifold;

a proximal shaft portion coupled to the manifold;

a distal shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the proximal shaft portion and being flexible relative to the proximal shaft portion;

a fiber braid disposed about the distal shaft portion; and

a hydrophilic coating disposed about at least the distal shaft portion.

3. A catheter, comprising:

a manifold;

a proximal shaft portion coupled to the manifold;

a distal shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the proximal shaft portion and being flexible relative to the proximal shaft portion;

a fiber braid disposed about the distal shaft portion; and

wherein at least a distal end of the distal shaft portion has a conformation suitable to be guided by blood flow within a blood vessel.

4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the distal end of the distal shaft portion comprises:

a curved tip.

5. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the distal shaft portion has a contoured exterior surface.

6. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the distal shaft portion includes a first bulbous member disposed thereabout.

7. The catheter of claim 6 wherein the distal shaft portion further comprises:

a second bulbous member disposed thereabout.

8. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the distal shaft portion includes an outer surface having at least one protruding ring extending therefrom.

9. The catheter of claim 8 wherein the distal shaft portion includes:

a plurality of outwardly protruding rings extending from the outer surface of the distal shaft portion.

10. A catheter, comprising:

a proximal shaft portion;

a distal shaft portion coupled to a distal end of the proximal shaft portion and being flexible relative to the proximal shaft portion; and

a fiber braid coupled to the distal shaft portion, the fiber braid including a plurality of fibers.

11. The catheter of claim 10 wherein the plurality of fibers each comprise a plurality of filaments.

12. The catheter of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of filaments is formed of a liquid crystal polymer material.

13. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the fiber braid comprises:

eight fibers, each of the eight fibers having five filaments.