Patent ID: 7824392

Claim:
An intravascular catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter having a distal region proximate the distal end, the catheter comprising: an inner layer extending from the distal end to the proximal end; and a reinforcing braid layer disposed over the inner layer, the braid layer formed from at least two continuous wires woven together, the braid layer comprising a proximal braid section in which each of the continuous wires has a proximal diameter, and a distal braid section in which each of the continuous wires has a distal diameter, wherein the proximal diameter of each of the continuous wires is constant throughout the proximal braid section and the distal diameter of each of the continuous wires is constant throughout the distal braid section; wherein each continuous wire extends through the proximal braid section and through the distal braid section, and the distal diameter of each of the continuous wires is about 1.0 millimeters and the proximal diameter of each of the continuous wires is about 1.5 millimeters; and wherein each of the continuous wires of the reinforcing braid layer includes a step-wise transition from the distal diameter of each of the continuous wires to the proximal diameter of each of the continuous wires and wherein the transition occurs in less than one revolution of the wire.