Patent ID: 6106510
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A medical catheter, comprising:a continuous liner defining a guidewire lumen, the liner having a constant inner diameter and a constant outer diameter;a continuous braided layer being braided over the continuous liner, the braided layer having a constant inner diameter and a constant outer diameter;a continuous bump layer, the braided layer being encapsulated between the liner and the bump layer;the bump layer having a proximal segment, and a bump section, the bump section having a transition zone at a proximal end of the bump section, the proximal segment having a distal end affixed to the proximal end of the bump section;the proximal segment of the bump layer having an outer diameter which is less than an outer diameter of the bump section of the bump layer, the transition zone having an outer diameter which smoothly transitions from the outer diameter of the distal end of the proximal segment of the bump layer to the larger outer diameter at a distal end of the transition zone; anda continuous outer jacket layer, the bump layer being encapsulated between the outer jacket layer and the braided layer, the outer jacket layer having a constant outer diameter, the outer jacket layer having an inner diameter conforming to the variable outer diameter of the bump layer, the bump layer being made of a material with a lower flexural modulus than that of the outer jacket layer, such that the flexibility of the catheter is greater in the bump section than in the proximal segment.