Intravascular catheter with a nontraumatic distal tip

Claim 2

The intravascular catheter (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the flexible tubular elements (17, 18) are formed of elastomeric or other rubber-like materials.

Claim 3

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the shaft (11) comprises: a braided tubular member (21) formed of a plurality of multifilament strands (23, 24) which are impregnated with a thermoset polymeric resin; a lubricous polymeric lining (20) extending longitudinally through the braided tubular member (21) and defining the inner lumen (14) extending within the elongated shaft (11) of the guiding catheter (10) ; and a thermoplastic polymeric jacket (22) on the exterior of the braided tubular member (21).

Claim 4

The intravascular catheter (10) of claim 3 further characterized in that the thermoset polymer resin which is incorporated into a distal (13) portion of the braided tubular member (21) has a cured hardness less than the cured hardness of the thermoset polymer resin which is incorporated into the proximal (12) portion of the braided tubular member (21).

Claim 5

The intravascular catheter (10) of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the catheter (10) is a torquable guiding catheter (10) having an elongated tubular shaft (11) with the inner lumen (14) extending therein, the distal portion (13) being preformed with a soft distal tip (16) which facilitates a nontraumatic advancement through a patient's vasculature, the shaft (11) comprising: a braided tubular member (21) formed of a plurality of multifilament strands (23, 24) which are impregnated with a thermoset polymeric resin, and a thermoplastic polymeric jacket (22) on the exterior of the braided tubular member (21); and a nontraumatic tip (16) secured to the distal (13) end of the elongated shaft (11) comprising the at least two relatively short elastomeric tubular elements (17, 18) in a coaxial configuration with each other and the elongated shaft (11).

Claim 6

The guiding catheter (10) of claim 5 further characterized in that the braided tubular member (21) is formed of radially compressed multifilament polymeric strands (23, 24) impregnated with thermoset polymeric resin.

Claim 7

The guiding catheter (10) of any one of claims 3 through 6 further characterized in that the thermoset polymeric resin which is incorporated into the braided multifilament polymeric strands (23, 24) is a polyurethane.

Claim 8

The guiding catheter (10) of any one of claims 3 through 7 further characterized in that the thermoplastic polymeric jacket (22) is a polyurethane.

Claim 9

The guiding catheter (10) of any one of claims 3 through 8 further characterized in that the multifilament strands (23, 24) are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aramid and polyester.

Claim 10

The guiding catheter (10) of claim 5 further characterized in that the braided tubular member (21) has a distal (13) end which has incorporated therein a thermoset polymer resin having a cured hardness less than the cured hardness of the thermoset polymer incorporated into the braided tubular member (21) proximal (12) thereto.

Claim 11

The guiding catheter (10) of any one of claims 3 through 10 further characterized in that the multifilament polymeric strands (23, 24) are braided into a double strand, diamond shaped construction.

Claim 12

The guiding catheter (10) of claim 5 further characterized by a lubricous polymeric lining (20) extending longitudinally through the braided tubular member (21) and defining the inner lumen (14) extending within the elongated shaft (11) of the guiding catheter (10).

Claim 13

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the most distal tubular element has in durometer hardness of at least about Shore 10 A lower than the durometer hardness of the proximal tubular element.

Claim 14

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the distal tubular element has a durometer hardness of about Shore 70 A to about Shore 90 A.

Claim 15

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the proximal tubular element has a durometer hardness of about Shore 80 A to about Shore 100 A.

Claim 16

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one claim 1 further characterized in that the shaft (11) has an elongated polymeric inner member (20) defining the inner lumen (14) therein; an elongated intermediate tubular member (21) disposed about and secured to the inner tubular member (20) and formed of multifilament polymeric strands (23, 24) which are impregnated with a thermoset polymeric resin; and an elongated thermoplastic polymeric jacket (22) disposed about and secured to the intermediate tubular member (21).

Claim 17

The intravascular catheter (10) of claim 16 further characterized in that the plurality of multifilament strands are braided.

Claim 18

The intravascular catheter (10) of any one claim 1 further characterized in that the shaft (11) is a tubular member formed of a plurality of multifilament thermoplastic strands (23, 24) in a tubular structure (21) and impregnated with a thermoset polymeric resin; a thermoplastic polymeric jacket (22) disposed about and secured to the exterior of the tubular member (21); and a nontraumatic distal tip (16) formed of relatively soft elastomeric material and secured to the distal end (13) of the tubular member.