Catheter shaft having variable thickness layers and method of making
US6663614B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M25/0045
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter having a shaft with at least two variable layers, in which the relative proportions of the two layers changes along at least a part of the multilayered shaft section. The catheter shaft includes a cotapered transition section having a first layer tapering to a decreased thickness, and a second layer inversely tapering to an increased thickness. In one embodiment, the shaft has one or more tapered outer and/or inner surfaces in addition to the cotapered transition. The tapered, outer or inner surface of the shaft is typically longitudinally displaced from the cotapered transition section. In a presently preferred embodiment, the shaft having a cotapered transition section is coextruded. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of making a shaft having a cotapered transition section. The shaft of the invention provides improved transitions between shaft sections, to thereby change characteristics such as the shaft stiffness along the length of the catheter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.