Catheter shaft having variable thickness layers and method of making
First Claim
1. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer, a second layer, the first layer being an inner layer relative to the second layer, and havinga) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface;
- and b) a second longitudinal section with a tapered outer diameter, and the first layer having a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, and the second layer having a substantially constant wall thickness in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter having a shaft with at least two variable layers, in which the relative proportions of the two layers changes along at least a part of the multilayered shaft section. The catheter shaft includes a cotapered transition section having a first layer tapering to a decreased thickness, and a second layer inversely tapering to an increased thickness. In one embodiment, the shaft has one or more tapered outer and/or inner surfaces in addition to the cotapered transition. The tapered, outer or inner surface of the shaft is typically longitudinally displaced from the cotapered transition section. In a presently preferred embodiment, the shaft having a cotapered transition section is coextruded. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of making a shaft having a cotapered transition section. The shaft of the invention provides improved transitions between shaft sections, to thereby change characteristics such as the shaft stiffness along the length of the catheter.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer, a second layer, the first layer being an inner layer relative to the second layer, and having
a) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface; - and
b) a second longitudinal section with a tapered outer diameter, and the first layer having a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, and the second layer having a substantially constant wall thickness in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer having an inner surface tapering distally to a smaller inner diameter, a second layer, and having
a) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface; - and
b) a second longitudinal section distal to and directly adjacent to the first longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, with a tapered outer diameter, and the first layer having an outer surface tapering distally to a smaller outer diameter in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft and the second layer having an outer surface tapering distally to a smaller outer diameter in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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- 11. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, and having at least a section having cotapered first and second layers, so that the first layer has a tapered surface and the second layer has an inversely tapered surface, the first layer being formed of a polymer having a melt flow index of about 10 to about 20 grams/minute, and the second layer being formed of a polymer having a melt flow index of about 10 to about 20 grams/minute.
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13. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer, a second layer, the first layer being an inner layer relative to the second layer, and having
a) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface; -
b) a second longitudinal section with a tapered outer diameter, and the first layer has a substantially constant wall thickness in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, and the second layer has a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft; and
c) a shaft section between and directly adjacent to the first and second longitudinal sections of the catheter shaft, having a constant outer diameter and a constant interfacial diameter between the first and second layers.
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14. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer having a proximal and a distal end, a second layer having a proximal end located distal to the proximal end of the first layer and a distal end located distal to the distal end of the first layer, and having
a) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface; - and
b) a second longitudinal section with a tapered outer diameter, at least one of the first or second layers having a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, and at least one of the first or second layers having a substantially constant wall thickness in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft.
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15. An intraluminal catheter, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen, a first layer, a second layer, the first layer being an inner layer relative to the outer layer, and having
a) a first longitudinal section with the first layer having a tapered surface, and the second layer having an inversely tapered surface; -
b) a second longitudinal section with a tapered outer diameter, at least one of the first or second layers having a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft, and at least one of the first or second layers having a substantially constant wall thickness in the second longitudinal section of the catheter shaft; and
c) an inner liner having a substantially constant wall thickness on an inner surface of the first layer.
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Specification