Patent ID: 8142415

Claim:
An elongate guide catheter body having a lumen extending between open proximal and distal ends and a central axis extending therethrough, the catheter body comprising: an outer polymeric bonding layer; and a tubular braided reinforcing layer encased within the outer polymeric bonding layer and comprising a continuous plurality of filaments wherein: a) the continuous plurality of filaments comprising a first portion of the filaments and a second portion of the filaments, wherein the first and second portions form a continuous cross-helix braid pattern; and b) the second portion of the continuous plurality of filaments forms a plurality of short axial segments substantially parallel to the central axis wherein each of the filaments of the second portion is helically interwoven with the first portion of filaments and repeatedly exits the cross-helix pattern, extends axially along an inner surface of the cross-helix pattern and returns into the cross-helix pattern, the plurality of short axial segments thus forming gliding segments exposed on an inner surface of the catheter body to facilitate smooth axial movement of a treatment device through the guide catheter body.