Patent ID: 8021352
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A medical catheter comprising a flexible shaft having a proximal portion and a distal end portion, said shaft having a tubular body including: an inner layer that defines a lumen; a braided portion that extends over at least a portion of said inner layer, the braided portion comprising a plurality of turn components defining a selected pic count; an outer layer that extends over the braided portion, the outer layer having a proximal end and a distal end; a fused region of the tubular body, the fused region being a first selected length of the tubular body, the first selected length including a first length of each of the inner layer, the braided portion and the outer layer, said tubular body fused region first selected length having said first length of the outer layer fused to the first length of the braided portion; an unfused region of the tubular body, the unfused region having a defined radius and a defined length that is a second selected length of the tubular body, the unfused region second selected length including a second length of each of the inner layer, the braided portion and the outer layer, said tubular body unfused region second selected length inner layer, braided portion and outer layer are unfused to each other and are unfused to any and all other members along the second selected length; said turn components of the braided portion at the fused region are fixed and non-slidable with respect to each other due to their fusion to the outer layer, while said turn components of the braided portion at the unfused region slide with respect to each other, whereby the fused region is stiffer than the unfused region, the unfused region has a greater flexibility than the fused region, and the unfused region is thereby of greater bendability than the fused region for following a vasculature path to enhance trackability; said fused region and said defined length unfused region being coaxial with each other; and wherein said outer layer at the fused region and at the unfused region have the same composition, being made of the same polymer material and being of the same durometer hardness.