Patent ID: 8702679

Claim:
A catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft including a braided tubular member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the braided tubular member comprising braided filaments formed into a mesh; at least one inner polymer layer having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed from a lubricious polymer coupled to the inner surface of the braided tubular member, the outer surface of the at least one inner polymer layer being configured with microscopic interstices; at least one outer polymer laminate layer coupled to the outer surface of the braided tubular member, wherein the polymer materials of the outer polymer laminate layer are interspersed through the braided tubular member and connect into interstices of the outer surface of the inner polymer layer, the thickness of the outer polymer laminate layer being configured to cover the braided tubular member thereby forming a smooth uninterrupted surface; at least one lumen in the catheter shaft, wherein the inner polymer layer and the outer polymer laminate layer are bonded together between cross-over points of the braided structure and form bridges that connect into the microscopic interstices of the inner polymeric layer thereby forming a unified structure; and a sheath introducer including a member having a proximal and a distal end and forming a single lumen configured to track over a guide wire, wherein the member is configured to be inserted into the catheter shaft, wherein a distal region of the member extends beyond a distal end of the catheter shaft when the member is fully inserted.