Patent ID: 9707373
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61M

Claim:
1. A catheter strengthening element having a longitudinal dimension and a radial dimension, the strengthening element including a plurality of metallic strengthening members disposed along a common axis, the metallic strengthening members being radially spaced from one another, with adjacent metallic strengthening members partially overlapping one another in the longitudinal direction; the metallic strengthening members being coupled together by at least one non-conductive coupling member, wherein the non-conductive coupling member couples adjacent metallic strengthening members to one another in an inelastic manner to ensure the overlap between adjacent metallic strengthening members remains, and wherein the plurality of metallic strengthening members comprises first metallic strengthening members having a first diameter and second metallic strengthening members having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and wherein an end of one of the second metallic strengthening members is disposed within a lumen of one of the first metallic strengthening members.