EP0334640A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Soft tip catheters
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
•
Filing: 1989-03-22
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-03-22
Abstract
Abstract Catheters having a tubular body portion formed with an inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material encapsulated by an outer sheath formed of the same or different rigid polymeric material. A wire braid is embedded in the tubular body between the inner and outer sheaths. The catheter further includes a tip portion which is welded to an end of the tubular body portion. This tip portion has an inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material encapsulated by an outer sheath of a flexible polymeric material. The inner sheath of both the body and tip portions are formed from the same polymeric material. This compatibity between the polymeric materials of the inner sheaths substantially increases the bonding between the tip and body portions of the catheter to form a stable joint.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark L. Pomeranz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/001; A61M25/0067; A61M25/008; A61M2025/0081; A61M25/0068; A61M25/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular tip portion formed from a rigid polymeric material; and a tubular body portion being fused to an end of said tubular body portion, said tip portion being formed with a first sheath of said rigid polymeric material over which a second soft and pliable polymeric material is formed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular tip portion formed from a rigid polymeric material; and a tubular body portion being fused to an end of said tubular body portion, said tip portion being formed with a first sheath of said rigid polymeric material over which a second soft and pliable polymeric material is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said body portion is formed with an inner and outer sheath formed from a rigid polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said rigid materials from which said tubular body portion inner and outer sheaths are formed are the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said rigid materials from which said tubular body portion inner and outer sheaths are formed are different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein said tubular body portion and said tip portion are welded together by a lap joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 5 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D50-D80.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D25 about D50.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 3 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 7 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body portion being fused including a inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material about which is wound a stiffening means, with an outer sheath formed over said inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material; and a tip portion which is welded to an end of said tubular body portion, said tip portion being formed with an inner sheath of rigid polymeric material about which is laid an outer sheath of a flexible polymeric material, said inner sheath of polymeric material is the same polymeric material as said polymeric material forming said inner sheath of said tubular body, with said soft and pliable polymeric material forming said outer sheath being of the type to render said tip portion flexible and soft to avoid trauma to a bodily cavity through which the catheter is directed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body portion being fused including a inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material about which is wound a stiffening means, with an outer sheath formed over said inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material; and a tip portion which is welded to an end of said tubular body portion, said tip portion being formed with an inner sheath of rigid polymeric material about which is laid an outer sheath of a flexible polymeric material, said inner sheath of polymeric material is the same polymeric material as said polymeric material forming said inner sheath of said tubular body, with said soft and pliable polymeric material forming said outer sheath being of the type to render said tip portion flexible and soft to avoid trauma to a bodily cavity through which the catheter is directed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein said rigid materials from which said tubular body portion inner and outer sheaths are formed are the same.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein said rigid materials from which said tubular body portion inner and outer sheaths are formed are different.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein said tubular body portion and said tip portion are welded together by a lap joint.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 13 wherein said tubular body portion and said tip portion are welded together by a lap joint.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D50-D80.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 13 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D50-D80.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D25 about D50.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 17 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D25 about D50.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D55 or D63.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 13 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D55 or D63.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 20 wherein said soft pliable polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D35 or D40.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 21 wherein said soft pliable polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D35 or D40.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 20 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 21 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
152 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body portion having at least a first passageway traversing traversing therethrough from opposite ends, said tubular body portion being formed with inner sheath of a first rigid polymeric material upon which a stiffening means is wound, said tubular body portion further being formed with an outer sheath of a second rigid polymeric material disposed over said stiffening means and said inner sheath; a tubular shaped tip portion which has at least a first passageway traversing therethrough, said passageway opening at least at a first end of said tip portion, which tip portion first end forms a lap joint with one of said ends of said body portion, said tubular tip portion having a first inner sheath formed from said rigid polymeric material forming said tubular body portion inner sheath, with an outer sheath being disposed upon said inner sheath formed from a soft and pliable polymeric material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
152 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body portion having at least a first passageway traversing traversing therethrough from opposite ends, said tubular body portion being formed with inner sheath of a first rigid polymeric material upon which a stiffening means is wound, said tubular body portion further being formed with an outer sheath of a second rigid polymeric material disposed over said stiffening means and said inner sheath; a tubular shaped tip portion which has at least a first passageway traversing therethrough, said passageway opening at least at a first end of said tip portion, which tip portion first end forms a lap joint with one of said ends of said body portion, said tubular tip portion having a first inner sheath formed from said rigid polymeric material forming said tubular body portion inner sheath, with an outer sheath being disposed upon said inner sheath formed from a soft and pliable polymeric material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 26 wherein said first and second rigid polymeric materials forming said inner and outer sheaths of said body portion are the same polymeric materials.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 26 wherein said first and second rigid polymeric materials forming said inner and outer sheaths of said body portion are differnet polymeric materials.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 27 wherein said first rigid polymeric material forming said body portion inner sheath and said tip portion inner sheath is selected from the group consisting of: polyamides, polyethylene terephthlates (PET), polyacetals, polycarbonates and PEBAX.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The catheter of claim 28 wherein said polymeric material forming said inner and outer sheaths of said body portion and said inner sheath and said tip portion is selected from the group consisting of: polyamides, polyethylene terephthlates (PET), polyacetals, polycarbonates and PEBAX.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 30 wherein said polymeric material forming said tip portion outer sheath is selected from the group consisting of: thermoplastic polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene), polyurethanes, polyesters and other suitable thermoplastic polymers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 27 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D50-D80.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 28 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D50-D80.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said soft pliable polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D25 about D50.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 33 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of from about D25 about D50.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 27 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D55 or D63.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 28 wherein said rigid polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D55 or D63.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 36 wherein said soft pliable polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D35 or D40.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 37 wherein said soft pliable polymeric material is of the type having a shore hardness of D35 or D40.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 38 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 39 further including a stiffening means embedded between said two rigid polymeric material sheaths.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of constructing a catheter comprising the steps of: forming a tubular body portion by first extruding a first rigid polymeric material onto a mandrel to form an inner sheath of said tubular body portion, wrapping a stiffening material about said extruded inner sheath of said tubular shaped body, and then extruding a second rigid polymeric material upon said wrapped inner sheath to form an outer sheath; preparing a tip portion by extruding an inner sheath formed from said first rigid polymeric material onto a mandrel and then extruding a soft and pliable polymeric material upon said inner sheath; and welding an end of said tip portion to an end of said body portion with said rigid polymeric material of said body portion inner sheath becoming fused with said rigid polymeric material of said tip portion inner sheath.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of constructing a catheter comprising the steps of: forming a tubular body portion by first extruding a first rigid polymeric material onto a mandrel to form an inner sheath of said tubular body portion, wrapping a stiffening material about said extruded inner sheath of said tubular shaped body, and then extruding a second rigid polymeric material upon said wrapped inner sheath to form an outer sheath; preparing a tip portion by extruding an inner sheath formed from said first rigid polymeric material onto a mandrel and then extruding a soft and pliable polymeric material upon said inner sheath; and welding an end of said tip portion to an end of said body portion with said rigid polymeric material of said body portion inner sheath becoming fused with said rigid polymeric material of said tip portion inner sheath.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said first and second rigid polymer materials are the same material.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said first and second rigid polymeric materials are different.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 44 wherein steps of forming said body portion includes tapering a distal end of said body portion and wherein said step of preparing said tip portion includes co-extruding said rigid polymeric material and said soft pliable polymeric material upon said mandrel and further forming that end of tip portion which is to welded to said body portion with a flare to fit over said tapered distal end of said body portion, said flared end being welded to said tapered distal end in such a manner to fuse said rigid polymeric material forming said inner sheaths of said body and tip portions together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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