US3965909A — Angiographic catheter and method of manufacture

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of manufacturing an elongated multiwall tube adapted for use as a catheter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first preformed elongated segment of flexible, tubular material; encasing at least a portion of said first segment in a reinforcing braid sheath; pulling said encased segment through a first heated die having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of said encased segment to cause said segment to flow between the braids of said sheath to form a composite tube; and encasing said composite tube in a flexible material.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of manufacturing an elongated multiwall tube adapted for use as a catheter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first preformed elongated segment of flexible, tubular material; encasing at least a portion of said first segment in a reinforcing braid sheath; pulling said encased segment through a first heated die having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of said encased segment to cause said segment to flow between the braids of said sheath to form a composite tube; and encasing said composite tube in a flexible material.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said composite tube is encased in said flexible material by covering at least a portion of said composite tube with a second preformed elongated segment of flexible material and pulling said encased composite tube through a second heated die having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of said encased composite tube, whereby said composite tube and said second segment are bonded together.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said second heated die is glass.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said braid sheath is terminated short of one end of said elongated multiwall tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said braid sheath is non-metallic.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as defined in claim 1, and further comprising the step of applying to said braid sheath a material compatible with said first segment for facilitating the development of said composite tube.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as defined in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of equipping one end of said elongated multiwall tube with a plurality of cylindrical segments, having different outside diameters and circumferences.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as defined in claim 7, wherein one of said cylindrical segments is a shrink tube fitted to the end of said multiwall tube by heating.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said cylindrical segments is a knurled handle portion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said first segment is of a thermoplastic material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 99 words

A catheter adapted for insertion and manipulation inside a patient's body, the catheter comprising: an elongated continuous inner tube for conducting fluid flow; an elongated braid sheath embedded and bonded to the surface of said inner tube, said braid sheath extending over a major portion of the length of said elongated inner tube; an elongated outer tube covering at least a portion of said elongated inner tube and bonded thereto; said braid sheath having been embedded in said inner tube by covering said inner tube with said braid sheath and pulling the covered tube through a first heated die.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 99 words

A catheter adapted for insertion and manipulation inside a patient's body, the catheter comprising: an elongated continuous inner tube for conducting fluid flow; an elongated braid sheath embedded and bonded to the surface of said inner tube, said braid sheath extending over a major portion of the length of said elongated inner tube; an elongated outer tube covering at least a portion of said elongated inner tube and bonded thereto; said braid sheath having been embedded in said inner tube by covering said inner tube with said braid sheath and pulling the covered tube through a first heated die.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said outer tube has been affixed to said inner tube with its embedded braid sheath, by covering said inner tube with said outer tube and pulling the covered inner tube through a second heated die.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath is impregnated with a material to facilitate bonding to said inner tube prior to associating with said first heated die.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 11 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath is non-metallic.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath comprises an essentially closed braid.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said catheter is an angiographic catheter and said inner and outer tubes comprise radiopaque materials.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath comprises a non-metallic fibrous material having a Youngs modulus in excess of 5 × 10 6 p.s.i.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath is formed of carbon graphite.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said braid sheath is formed of Kelvar 49.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein the distal tip of the catheter is integral with said inner tube.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

The catheter of claim 11, wherein said outer tube is of a microporous material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 102 words

A multiwall elongated tube adapted for use as a catheter, the tube comprising: an elongated inner tube of flexible thermoplastic material having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted to be inserted into a tortuous body passage such as a blood vessel; a reinforcing non-metallic substantially inelastic braid sheath saturated by said inner tube so that said braid sheath is embedded in the surface of said inner tube, said braid sheath extending substantially the entire length of said elongated inner tube; and an outer tube of a flexible thermoplastic material positioned over, coextensive with, and bonded to said inner tube.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 102 words

A multiwall elongated tube adapted for use as a catheter, the tube comprising: an elongated inner tube of flexible thermoplastic material having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted to be inserted into a tortuous body passage such as a blood vessel; a reinforcing non-metallic substantially inelastic braid sheath saturated by said inner tube so that said braid sheath is embedded in the surface of said inner tube, said braid sheath extending substantially the entire length of said elongated inner tube; and an outer tube of a flexible thermoplastic material positioned over, coextensive with, and bonded to said inner tube.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The catheter of claim 22, wherein said braid sheath extends from said proximal end to a location spaced from the extreme distal end.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 68 words

The catheter of claim 22, wherein said braid sheath is embedded in the surface of said inner tube by covering the inner tube with the braid sheath and pulling the same through a first heated die, and wherein said outer tube is bonded to the inner tube - braid sheath combination by covering the combination with the outer tube and pulling the same through a second heated die.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

The catheter of claim 22, wherein said braid sheath extends from said proximal end to several inches from said distal end.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The catheter of claim 22, wherein said braid sheath is developed from at least two oppositely wound spirals.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The catheter of claim 21, wherein said braid sheath is impregnated with a material compatible with and to facilitate bonding to said inner and outer tubes.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 70 words

A method of introducing a treating agent into the vascular system of an individual simultaneous with the introduction of a catheter into the vascular system, the method comprising the steps of: equipping the outside surface of a catheter with a porous material; temporarily impregnating the porous material with said treating agent; and introducing the impregnated catheter into the vascular system while said treating agent leeches out of said porous material.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 70 words

A method of introducing a treating agent into the vascular system of an individual simultaneous with the introduction of a catheter into the vascular system, the method comprising the steps of: equipping the outside surface of a catheter with a porous material; temporarily impregnating the porous material with said treating agent; and introducing the impregnated catheter into the vascular system while said treating agent leeches out of said porous material.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 28, wherein said treating agent is an anti-coagulant.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-06-29	1979-12-29	1980-06-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-06-29	1983-12-29	1984-06-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-06-29	1987-12-29	1988-06-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Angiographic catheter and method of manufacture

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag