Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An intravascular catheter which comprises: a flexible, plastic inner tube; a fibrous, tubular reinforcement member carried by said inner tube; a first section comprising a first plastic material overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; a second section comprising a second plastic material having different physical properties from said first plastic material and overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; said first section being in abutting relationship which said second section; said tubular reinforcement member comprising integral fibers that extend between and are embedded in the plastic of both said first and second sections; and a third section abutting said second section, said third section comprising a plastic free of said embedded, fibrous, tubular reinforcement member and generally free of said inner tube; said catheter having a central, smooth, plastic-walled open lumen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An intravascular catheter which comprises: a flexible, plastic inner tube; a fibrous, tubular reinforcement member carried by said inner tube; a first section comprising a first plastic material overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; a second section comprising a second plastic material having different physical properties from said first plastic material and overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; said first section being in abutting relationship which said second section; said tubular reinforcement member comprising integral fibers that extend between and are embedded in the plastic of both said first and second sections; and a third section abutting said second section, said third section comprising a plastic free of said embedded, fibrous, tubular reinforcement member and generally free of said inner tube; said catheter having a central, smooth, plastic-walled open lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 in which said fibrous, tubular reinforcement member comprises braided fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 in which said first and second plastic materials are nylon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 1 in which said first and second plastic materials are each of a Shore D Durometer that differs by at least 15 units from the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 1 in which said reinforcement member comprises metal fibers, said reinforcement member defining annular, integral, welded ends free of outwardly projecting individual fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 1 in which the smooth, lumen-defining inner plastic surface is defined by said inner tube about which said embedded, fibrous, tubular reinforcement member resides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 6 in which said inner tube is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 7 in which said first and second plastic materials are nylon, each being of a Shore D durometer that differs by at least 15 units from the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 8 in which said reinforcement member comprises metal fibers, said reinforcement member defining annular, integral, welded ends free of outwardly projecting individual fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
An intravascular catheter which comprises: a flexible, plastic inner tube; a fibrous, braided tubular reinforcement member comprising metal fibers carried by said inner rube; a first section comprising first nylon material overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; a second section comprising second nylon material having different physical properties from said first nylon material and overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; said first section being in abutting relationship with second section; said tubular reinforcement member comprising integral metal braided fibers that extend between and are embedded in the nylon material of both said first and second sections; said reinforcement member defining annular, integral, welded ends free of outwardly projecting individual fibers; a third section abutting said second section, said third section comprising a plastic free of said embedded, fibrous, tubular reinforcement member and generally free of said inner tube; and said catheter having a central, smooth, plastic-walled, opened lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
An intravascular catheter which comprises: a flexible, plastic inner tube; a fibrous, braided tubular reinforcement member comprising metal fibers carried by said inner rube; a first section comprising first nylon material overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; a second section comprising second nylon material having different physical properties from said first nylon material and overlying said inner tube and reinforcement member; said first section being in abutting relationship with second section; said tubular reinforcement member comprising integral metal braided fibers that extend between and are embedded in the nylon material of both said first and second sections; said reinforcement member defining annular, integral, welded ends free of outwardly projecting individual fibers; a third section abutting said second section, said third section comprising a plastic free of said embedded, fibrous, tubular reinforcement member and generally free of said inner tube; and said catheter having a central, smooth, plastic-walled, opened lumen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 10 in which said first and second nylon plastic materials are each of a Shore D durometer that differs by at least 15 units from the other.