Patent ID: 6210396
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61L,A61M

Abstract:
A catheter body comprising:a proximal, tubular catheter shaft, the catheter shaft formed of a relatively stiff polymeric material extending between a catheter shaft proximal end and a catheter shaft distal end, the catheter shaft having a catheter shaft outer diameter and defining at least one catheter shaft lumen extending between the catheter shaft proximal and distal ends;a radiopaque band made of polymeric material loaded with a radiopaque material of greater than 40% by weight, the radiopaque band having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a distal end, a proximal end, and defining at least one lumen, the radiopaque band;a distal soft tip formed of a relatively flexible polymeric material, loaded with radiopaque material which is less radiopaque than the radiopaque band, the distal soft tip extending between a soft tip proximal end and a soft tip distal end, the distal soft tip having a soft tip outer diameter and at least one soft tip lumen extending between the soft tip proximal end and the soft tip distal end, the radiopaque band proximal end adjoining the catheter shaft distal end and the radiopaque band distal end adjoining the distal soft tip proximal end to form attachment junctions; anda tubular sleeve defining a tubular sleeve lumen, the tubular sleeve fitting coaxially over the radiopaque band, the catheter shaft distal end and the distal soft tip proximal end, the tubular sleeve adhering the catheter shaft distal end to the proximal end of the radiopaque band and the tubular sleeve adhering to the soft tip proximal end to the distal end of the radiopaque band thereby aligning the soft tip lumen, the radiopaque band lumen, and the catheter shaft lumen, the proximal end of the tubular sleeve being bonded to a distal portion of the catheter shaft, the distal end of the tubular sleeve being bonded to the proximal end of the soft distal tip, the radiopaque band being bonded to the tubular sleeve thereby bridging the attachment junctions,wherein the tubular sleeve is melt compatible with the radiopaque band, the catheter shaft distal end and the distal soft tip such that the tubular sleeve, the catheter shaft distal end, the radiopaque band and the distal soft tip proximal end bond.