Patent ID: 7976530

Claim:
An implantable catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body, the catheter comprising: an elongate tubular core comprising a first material that comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) tubing, the core having a distal end and a proximal end; an elongate tubular tip comprising a second material, the tip also having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the tip is positioned to abut or be near the distal end of the core such that a generally continuous lumen extends from the proximal end of the core to the distal end of the tip, the tip defining a cylindrical outer surface of uniform diameter extending from the distal to the proximal end of the tip, and further wherein a ratio of bending stiffness of the tip to bending stiffness of the core is about 24:1; an elastomeric jacket surrounding and bonded to longitudinal portions of both the tip and the core, wherein the distal end of the tip protrudes beyond a distal end of the elastomeric jacket, and wherein the elastomeric jacket has an outside diameter that is larger than the uniform outside diameter of the tip and about three or more times larger than an outside diameter of the core; strengthening members wound about the core and at least a portion of the tip; and one or more longitudinal markers located along the elastomeric jacket.