Catheter having polymer stiffener rings and method of making the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making a catheter, comprising the steps of:
- providing an inner tubular member of a soft, flexible polymer material; and
spraying a hard polymer material on an outer surface of said tubular member to form a plurality of hard polymer rings on said outer surface of said inner tubular member at spaced locations along a length of the tubular member, said hard polymer material having a hardness greater than said soft, flexible polymer material to provide resistance to crushing and kinking, wherein said hard polymer rings are formed concentric with the tubular member and are completely separated from each other.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter and method of making a catheter are disclosed in which the catheter is highly flexible and yet resistant to crushing and kinking. The catheter is made by applying rings of hard polymer material along the tubular shaft as the catheter is manufactured. The catheter thus has a plurality of hard polymer rings formed at spaced locations along its length, and soft segments between the hard polymer rings that allow the catheter to remain very flexible. The hard polymer rings improve the radial strength of the catheter and make the catheter resistant to crushing and kinking.
25 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of making a catheter, comprising the steps of:
-
providing an inner tubular member of a soft, flexible polymer material; and spraying a hard polymer material on an outer surface of said tubular member to form a plurality of hard polymer rings on said outer surface of said inner tubular member at spaced locations along a length of the tubular member, said hard polymer material having a hardness greater than said soft, flexible polymer material to provide resistance to crushing and kinking, wherein said hard polymer rings are formed concentric with the tubular member and are completely separated from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification