Patent ID: 6793634
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An improved vascular catheter of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal tubular portion, a distal tubular portion, and a single primary lumen therethrough, and (b) a drive cable having a cable body and a cable lumen rotatably received in the primary lumen, with a lead wire disposed in the cable lumen, wherein the improvement comprises an intermediate tubular portion formed on the tubular catheter body of a transitional material between the proximal tubular portion and the distal tubular portion, the transitional material being of a higher flexural modulus than the distal tubular portion and of a lower flexural modulus than the proximal tubular portion, and a strain relief device coupled to a portion of the drive cable to provide strain relief to the lead wire when the lead wire is subjected to a tensile load.