Patent ID: 8246574
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A support catheter comprising: a catheter body having a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions disposed in alternating fashion from the distal end toward the proximal end, the first portions and the second portions having differing stiffnesses, with a wall of the second portions having a generally uniform cross-section; and a first supporting structure operatively associated with each of the first portions, the first supporting structure including a metallic or polymeric support member and extending from a first portion proximal end to a first portion distal end of the first portion, the first support structure being helically disposed on the first portion and having a variable helical pitch from the first portion proximal end to the first portion distal end so as to impart a stiffness to the first portion different than the stiffness presented by an adjacently positioned second portion of the plurality of second portions, and a second supporting structure operatively associated with each of the second portions, the second supporting structure including a cylindrically-shaped tubular ring portion extending from a second portion proximal end to a second portion distal end, the tubular ring portion being disposed on the second portion and having a wall with no breaks from the second portion proximal end to the second portion distal end so as to impart a stiffness to the second portion different than the stiffness presented by an adjacently positioned first portion of the plurality of first portions, the first and second supporting structures in combination with the material forming the plurality of first portions and the plurality of second portions varying the stiffness of the first portions relative to the second portions and varying the stiffness of the catheter body along its length from the proximal end to the distal end.