Patent ID: 8157790

Claim:
A catheter positionable in a living body comprising: a catheter body possessing a lumen, the catheter body comprising: an inner layer extending along at least a distal end portion of the catheter body, the inner layer possessing an inner surface exposed to the lumen of the catheter body; an outer layer contacting the inner layer and extending along at least the distal end portion of the catheter body; a reinforcement layer between the inner layer and the outer layer; the reinforcement layer possessing a radially outwardly facing outer surface; the reinforcement layer comprising a first filamentous member, the first filamentous member extending in a spiral manner about the inner layer so that portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent one another in a longitudinal direction of the catheter body are spaced apart; a marker comprised of a material possessing contrast properties permitting confirmation of a position of the distal end portion of the catheter from outside the living body; the marker comprising a second filamentous member comprised of the material possessing contrast properties, the second filamentous member extending in a spiral manner about the inner layer and having a distal end and a proximal end; a majority of the second filamentous member being positioned between portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction of the catheter body and being an inner layer close contact portion which is in direct contact with the inner layer; the majority of the second filamentous member positioned between the portions of the first filamentous member including three or more adjacent spiral windings which contact each other between the portions; a remainder of the second filamentous member, comprising at least a portion of the second filamentous member, directly overlying the radially outwardly facing outer surface of the reinforcement layer; the marker and the reinforcement layer being covered by the outer layer; wherein all portions of the second filamentous member which are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the catheter body are in contact with each other; and wherein the first filamentous member extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the second filamentous member in the longitudinal direction of the catheter body, and the inner layer close contact portion which is in direct contact with the inner layer is disposed only at the distal end portion of the catheter body.