Patent ID: 6355027
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A microcatheter comprising:a. a one-piece tubing formed of a polyether and polyamide copolymer, or a fluoroplastic inner layer; b. a braid of stainless steel wires over the inner layer to provide kink resistance or minimization of ovalization with bending and to increase torque transfer; and, c. an outer layer made up of a mixture of a polyamide base material, a polyether and polyamide base material, a polyurethane base material, one material having a 70-80 D Shore hardness value and the other material having a 25-35 D Shore hardness value; and wherein the amounts of the materials of said mixture forming said outer layer continuously vary along the length of said outer layer such that the hardness of said outer layer at a first point along the length of said outer layer is different than at any other point along the length of said outer layer, thereby attaining continuously variable stiffness of the microcatheter along its entire length.