Patent ID: 9545299
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: A61F,B29C,B32B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of forming a catheter with a longitudinal length, the method comprising: bonding a distal outer tube, the distal outer tube being either translucent or transparent, to a distal region of an inner tube having a longitudinal length equal to the longitudinal length of the catheter, the inner tube also comprising a proximal region, and a medial region extending between and connecting the distal and proximal regions, wherein the distal region of the inner tube is either translucent or transparent; bonding a medial outer tube to the medial region of the inner tube, the medial outer tube being opaque; bonding a proximal outer tube to the inner tube, the proximal outer tube being opaque; and interposing a support structure between the inner tube and the proximal, medial, and distal outer tubes and bonding the support structure thereto, wherein the support structure extends from a proximal end of the inner tube to a position that is proximal to a distal end of the inner tube and distal to a distal end of the medial outer tube, the support structure positioned such that a stent disposed in the distal region of the catheter extends distal of the support structure.