Patent ID: 7837692
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A catheter comprising a catheter tube portion having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion includes a tip, the tip comprising axial reinforcement legs formed of the catheter tube portion and a soft portion formed of a polymeric material, wherein the soft portion is disposed around the axial reinforcement legs and the tip is more flexible relative to the catheter tube portion, wherein the tip is movable from a delivery configuration in which an outer diameter of the tip is approximately of the same dimension as an outer diameter of the catheter portion to which it is attached, to an expandable position as an article is received in the tip, and wherein, in the delivery configuration, the outer diameter of the tip is constant along the entire length of the tip.