Flexible catheter
First Claim
1. A medical catheter comprising:
- a proximal section having a proximal end and a distal end;
a transition section having a proximal end and a distal end;
a distal section having a proximal end and a distal end;
a balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the proximal section forming the transition section, the distal end of the transition section being coaxially affixed to and covered by the proximal end of the distal section, the distal end of the distal section being affixed to the proximal end of the balloon;
a guidewire shaft defining a guidewire lumen, the guidewire shaft extending longitudinally and coaxially throughout the proximal section, the transition section, the distal section and the balloon with enough clearance between an outer diameter of the guidewire shaft and an inner diameter of the proximal section, transition section, distal section and balloon so as to define an inflation lumen therebetween and maintain fluid communication with the balloon; and
the transition section further comprising a necked-down area of reduced outer diameter beginning at the proximal end of the transition section, the area of reduced outer diameter having a spirally cut distal portion to increase flexibility and kink resistance, the distal end of the transition section ending proximal to the proximal end of the balloon.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical catheter comprising a distal shaft having a greater flexibility than the proximal shaft. The proximal shaft has a helical end portion of reduced outer diameter which is integral with and extending from the distal end of the proximal shaft. The helical end portion slidingly fits within a portion of the proximal end of the distal shaft. The helical end portion is bonded to at least a portion of the distal shaft to form a fluid-tight seal. The pitch of the helical end portion may be constant or variable. The helical turns may be abutting or spaced apart. A guidewire shaft centrally extends longitudinally through the proximal and distal shaft such that fluid can be transmitted through the proximal and distal shaft, exterior to the guidewire shaft.
66 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A medical catheter comprising:
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a proximal section having a proximal end and a distal end; a transition section having a proximal end and a distal end; a distal section having a proximal end and a distal end; a balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the proximal section forming the transition section, the distal end of the transition section being coaxially affixed to and covered by the proximal end of the distal section, the distal end of the distal section being affixed to the proximal end of the balloon; a guidewire shaft defining a guidewire lumen, the guidewire shaft extending longitudinally and coaxially throughout the proximal section, the transition section, the distal section and the balloon with enough clearance between an outer diameter of the guidewire shaft and an inner diameter of the proximal section, transition section, distal section and balloon so as to define an inflation lumen therebetween and maintain fluid communication with the balloon; and the transition section further comprising a necked-down area of reduced outer diameter beginning at the proximal end of the transition section, the area of reduced outer diameter having a spirally cut distal portion to increase flexibility and kink resistance, the distal end of the transition section ending proximal to the proximal end of the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A medical catheter comprising:
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a proximal shaft having an outer diameter; a distal shaft having greater flexibility than the proximal shaft, a proximal portion of the proximal shaft having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft, the proximal shaft further comprising; a helical end portion of reduced outer diameter integral with and extending from a distal end of the proximal shaft, the helical end portion slidingly fitting within a portion of a proximal end of the distal shaft; and the helical end portion being bonded to the distal shaft over at least a proximal portion of the helical end portion to form a fluid-tight seal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification