US5676659A — Small diameter, high torque catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

A catheter consisting of: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a braided reinforcement layer disposed over the inner tubular member and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the braided reinforcement layer terminates at a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm proximally from the distal end of the inner tubular member; and a soft outer layer which is a single continuous thermoplastic tube disposed over the braided reinforcement layer and free from seams and junctions, wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and the inner tubular member and a distal portion extending distally of the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, said distal portion defining a distal lumen extending from and opening into the lumen of the inner tubular member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

A catheter consisting of: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a braided reinforcement layer disposed over the inner tubular member and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the braided reinforcement layer terminates at a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm proximally from the distal end of the inner tubular member; and a soft outer layer which is a single continuous thermoplastic tube disposed over the braided reinforcement layer and free from seams and junctions, wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and the inner tubular member and a distal portion extending distally of the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, said distal portion defining a distal lumen extending from and opening into the lumen of the inner tubular member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the inner tubular member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, polyamides, polyolefins, and polyimides.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

A catheter as in claim 2, wherein the inner tubular member is polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the braided reinforcement layer comprises at least one stainless steel braid formed over the inner tubular member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A catheter as in claim 4, wherein the distal end of the stainless steel braid is an annealed and transversely cut distal end and is protrusion less.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the soft outer layer is composed of a material having a hardness in the range from 30 A to 72 D.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of polyether block copolymer, polyurethane, silicone rubber, nylon, polyethylene, and fluoronated hydrocarbon polymers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the catheter is at least 60 cm long, and wherein the braid characteristics of the braided reinforcement layer are selected to increase flexibility within a distal 1 to 60 cm of the catheter relative to a proximal portion of the catheter.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the soft outer layer is impregnated into the braided reinforcement layer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 197 words

A catheter body consisting of: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and having an inner diameter in the range from 0.1 mm to 3.6 mm; a braided reinforcement layer disposed over the inner tubular member and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the braided reinforcement layer terminates at a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm proximally from the distal end of the inner tubular member; and a soft outer layer which is a single continuous thermoplastic tube free from seams and junctions disposed over the braided reinforcement layer and wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and the inner tubular member and which extends distally of the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, wherein soft outer layer has a distal lumen contiguous with the lumen of the inner tubular member and wherein the outer diameter of the soft outer layer is in the range from 0.33 mm to 4 mm.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 197 words

A catheter body consisting of: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and having an inner diameter in the range from 0.1 mm to 3.6 mm; a braided reinforcement layer disposed over the inner tubular member and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the braided reinforcement layer terminates at a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm proximally from the distal end of the inner tubular member; and a soft outer layer which is a single continuous thermoplastic tube free from seams and junctions disposed over the braided reinforcement layer and wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and the inner tubular member and which extends distally of the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, wherein soft outer layer has a distal lumen contiguous with the lumen of the inner tubular member and wherein the outer diameter of the soft outer layer is in the range from 0.33 mm to 4 mm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

A catheter body as in claim 10, wherein the inner tubular member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, polyamides, polyolefins, and polyimides.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

A catheter body as in claim 11, wherein the inner tubular member is polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

A catheter body as in claim 10, wherein the braided reinforcement layer comprises at least one stainless steel braid formed over the inner tubular member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

A catheter body as in claim 13, wherein the distal end of the stainless steel braid is an annealed, transversely cut distal end and is protrusion less.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A catheter body as in claim 10, wherein the soft outer layer is composed of a material having a hardness in the range from 30 A to 72 D.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

A catheter body as in claim 15, wherein the material is select from the group consisting of polyether block copolymer, polyurethane, silicone rubber, nylon, polyethylene, and fluoronated hydrocarbon polymers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

A catheter body as in claim 10, having a length in the range from about 40 cm to 200 cm.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

A catheter body as in claim 10, wherein the soft outer layer is impregnated into the braided reinforcement layer.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 164 words

A method for fabricating a catheter, said method consisting of: providing an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end of the distal end; forming a braid over the inner tubular member from the proximal end to a location spaced proximally from the distal end by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm; and forming a soft outer layer by melting a single continuous thermoplastic tube over the braid and the inner tubular member wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and inner tubular member and a distal portion of the tube which extends distally beyond the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, said distal portion defining a distal lumen opening into the lumen of the inner tubular member and said soft outer layer being free from seams and junctions.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 164 words

A method for fabricating a catheter, said method consisting of: providing an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end of the distal end; forming a braid over the inner tubular member from the proximal end to a location spaced proximally from the distal end by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm; and forming a soft outer layer by melting a single continuous thermoplastic tube over the braid and the inner tubular member wherein the thermoplastic tube has a proximal portion which is disposed over the braid and inner tubular member and a distal portion of the tube which extends distally beyond the distal end of the inner tubular member by a distance in the range from 1 cm to 10 cm, said distal portion defining a distal lumen opening into the lumen of the inner tubular member and said soft outer layer being free from seams and junctions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as in claim 19, wherein the inner tubular member is disposed over a mandrel which extends beyond the distal end of the inner tubular member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 20, further comprising annealing a distal end of the braid and transversely cutting said distal end to remove protrusions.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as in claim 19, wherein the inner tubular member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, polyamides, polyolefins, and polyimides.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method as in claim 22, wherein the inner tubular member is polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as in claim 19, wherein the soft outer layer is composed of a material having a hardness in the range from 30 A to 72 D.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as in claim 24, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of polyether block copolymer, polyurethane, silicone rubber, nylon, polyethylene, and fluoronated hydrocarbon polymers.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as in claim 19, where a one-over-one stainless steel braid is formed over the inner tubular member.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as in claim 19, wherein the soft layer is formed by: placing a mandrel within the inner tubular member; placing the thermoplastic tube over the braid and the inner tubular member with the mandrel therein; and applying heat and pressure to melt the thermoplastic and impregnate the thermoplastic into the braid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-10-13	2001-04-14	2001-10-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-10-13	2005-04-14	2005-10-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-10-13	2009-04-14	2009-10-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Small diameter, high torque catheter

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