Intravascular catheter with composite reinforcement

• US 6,171,295 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bardsley, Earl, Garabedian, Robert J., Griego, John, Schaefer, Dean A., Dao, Cang D., Anderson, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/234,203
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264, 604/523, 604/524, 604/525, 604/526-529, 604/282
• US Class Current: 604/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• 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

Abstract

An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.

Claims

1. An intravascular catheter, comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal region including an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer, each layer having a distal end, the reinforcement layer comprising a braid having a metallic member and a plurality of polymer member, wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of mono filaments, further comprising a longitudinal spine member extending along the reinforcement layer.

2. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the monofilaments are not fused together.

3. An intravascular catheter as in claim 2, wherein the monofilaments have a substantially circular cross-section.

4. An intravascular catheter as in claim 3, wherein the monofilaments comprise LCP.

5. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the monofilaments are arranged side-by-side to collectively define a flat cable.

6. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal line member extending along the reinforcement layer.

7. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal spine member comprises a plurality of longitudinal monofilaments.

8. An intravascular catheter as in claim 7, wherein the longitudinal spine member comprises a polymer.

9. An intravascular catheter as in claim 8, wherein the longitudinal spine member comprises LCP.

10. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the monofilaments are arranged side-by-side to collectively define a flat cable having a first major side and a second major side, one of the major sides facing the lumen of the shaft.

11. An intravascular catheter as in claim 10, wherein the first major side faces the lumen of the shaft for a first length and the second major side faces the lumen of the shaft for a second length.

12. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the monofilaments are arranged to collectively define a round cable.

13. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the metallic members comprise a highly radiopaque material.

14. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the braid includes a plurality of metallic members.

15. An intravascular catheter as in claim 1, wherein the distal region includes a radiopaque marker band surrounding the reinforcement layer.

16. An intravascular catheter as in claim 15, wherein the distal region includes an atraumatic tip layer surrounding at least a portion of the radiopaque marker band and at least a portion of the reinforcement layer, the tip layer including a distal portion that extends distally beyond the distal ends of the inner layer and the reinforcement layer.

17. An intravascular catheter, comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal region including an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer, the reinforcement layer comprising a braid having a metallic member and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments arranged side-by-side to collectively define a flat cable, further comprising a longitudinal spine member extending along the reinforcement layer.

18. An intravascular catheters comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal region including an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer, each layer having a distal end, the outer layer including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the outer layer comprising a first material having a first durometer, the distal portion of the outer layer comprising a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer, the reinforcement layer comprising a braid having a metallic member and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, further comprising longitudinal spine member extending along the reinforcement layer, the distal region of the shaft including a radiopaque marker band surrounding the reinforcement layer and an atraumatic tip layer surrounding at least a portion of the radiopaque marker band and at least a portion of the reinforcement layer, the tip layer including a distal portion that extends distally beyond the distal ends of the inner layer and the reinforcement layer, the tip layer comprising a third material having a third durometer less than the second durometer.