Medical catheter

• US 6,135,992 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Wang
• Original Assignee: James C. Wang
• Inventors: Wang, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/840,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 264/150, 264/167, 264/171.26, 264/171.27, 264/171.28, 425/133.1, 425/131.1, 425/462, 425/467, 425/132, 425/146, 604/264, 604/523, 604/524, 604/525, 604/534, 604/535
• US Class Current: 604/525
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/926 Flow or feed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92828 Raw material handling or dosing, e.g. active hopper or feeding device
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/11 comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/153 Coating both inner and outer surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/18 the components being layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/335 Multiple annular extrusion nozzles in coaxial arrangement, e.g. for making multi-layered tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/337 the components merging at a common location
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/34 Cross-head annular extrusion nozzles, i.e. for simultaneously receiving moulding material and the preform to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 Catheters

Abstract

A medical device, such as a catheter in which the catheter has a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively soft distal section joined by a relatively short transition section in which the materials of the proximal and distal sections are gradually combined in the transition section to form a continuous unbroken tube without abrupt joints. The relatively soft distal section can be provided with a balloon, and the catheter can be provided with multiple passageways. In addition, the catheters can be provided with braiding to provide the finished product with more torqueability and kink resistance.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising an elongated tube having a proximal section and a distal section, said tube having an annular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a central passageway that extends substantially the length of the tube, said tube being constructed of a first material and a second material having less stiffness than the first material, the wall of the tube gradually changing from the first material to the second material to form a transition section between the proximal section and the distal section, the first and second materials being gradually combined in the transition section and naturally adhering to each other to form a wall gradually changing from one substantially made up of the first material to one substantially made up of the second material to form a continuous unbroken tube of materials having different properties and without abrupt joints, the distal section being made of the second material and therefore less stiff than the proximal section.

2. The medical device of claim 1 in which the average length of the transition section is about 0.25-20 inches.

3. The medical device of claim 1 in which the proximal section is substantially longer than the combined length of the transition section and the distal section, and the transition section is formed into a generally S-shaped configuration.

4. The medical device of claim 1 in which the annular wall defines at least one additional passageway extending substantially the entire length of the tube, and a balloon is located at the end of the distal section of the tube, said balloon adapted to be inflated by fluid passed through one of the passageways.

5. The medical device of claim 4 in which the average length of the transition section is about 0.25-20 inches.

6. The medical device of claim 5 further comprising a circumferential layer of braided mesh material embedded in said wall along at least a portion of the wall.

7. The medical device of claim 5 further comprising a helically wound metal coil embedded in said wall in at least a portion of the tube.

8. The medical device of claim 2 in which the transition section is curved in its relaxed state and the distal section is sufficiently soft to provide a low-trauma end at the end of the distal section for guiding the device when used as a catheter.

9. The medical device of claim 8 in which the transition section is provided with openings to provide for discharge of fluid passed through the passageway.

10. The medical device of claim 2 further comprising a circumferential layer of braided mesh material embedded in said wall along at least a portion of the wall.

11. The medical device of claim 2 further comprising a helically wound metal coil embedded in said wall in at least a portion of the tube.