Catheter having transitioning shaft segments

US8403885B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Ramon Arana · Temecula, US
• Daniel G. Brown · Caroleen, US
• Curt A. Novak · Corona, US
• Justin Mann · Lake Elsinore, US
• John A. Simpson · Carlsbad, US
• Bruce M. Wilson · Temecula, US
• Leonard D. Barbod · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2007
• Grant date: Mar 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29L2031/7543
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A catheter having shaft segments which are joined together by a strong bond providing a low profile shaft section with a flexibility transition and/or a compositional transition. A balloon catheter embodying features of the invention has a distal tip member and a coupling band member surrounding a junction of an inner tubular member of the shaft, and has a gradual change in bending stiffness along a distal end section of the shaft which extends distally from a location within the balloon interior. Another catheter embodying features of the invention has shaft segments joined together by a diagonal seam.