EP0555088A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Guiding catheter having soft tip
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A vascular guiding catheter comprises an inner tubular member having a torque transmitting member formed over a major portion thereof and a soft polymeric tip formed at the distal end thereof. The torque transmitting member provides the characteristics of torsional stiffness and axial flexibility which are necessary to be able to introduce the catheter to the vascular system. The soft polymeric tip reduces the likelihood that the catheter can injure the blood vessel and provides a convenient location for the inclusion of perfusion ports. A reinforcement layer (42) is provided over a transition region (38) between the termination of the torque transmitting member (34) and the soft distal tip (40). Optionally, reinforcement layers may be provided elsewhere along the length of the catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael T. Lonsbury
- 👤 Richard S. Jaraczewski
- 👤 Fred H. Co
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0045; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/0662; A61M25/0067; A61M25/008; A61M2025/0081; A61M25/0052; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A guiding catheter comprising: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter; a torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof; a reinforcement layer extending from the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member; and an outer layer extending over the torque transmitting member, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, wherein the torque transmitting member includes a braided tubular structure and the outer layer includes a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 40D to 90D, said polymeric material impregnating the braided tubular structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein outer layer terminates at its distal end in a soft polymeric tip has a hardness in the range from 40A to 90A, said soft tip extending over the distal 0.5 mm to 8 mm of the guiding catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising at least one additional reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from about 50D to 100D impregnated within at least a portion of the torque transmitting member proximal to the transition location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 4, including at least two axially spaced-apart additional reinforcement layers having different hardnesses to form regions on the catheter having different bending stiffnesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guiding cathether as in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is formed over the torque transmitting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guiding cathether as in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is formed between the torque transmitting member and the inner tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guiding catheter as in any one of the preceding claims, having side ports located distally of the transition location, wherein the side ports penetrate through the reinforcement layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A guiding catheter as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one radiopaque band formed distally of the transition region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An improved guiding catheter of the type including an inner tubular member, a braided torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member, and an outer polymeric layer impregnating the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the improvement comprises at least one reinforcement layer impregnating the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the reinforcement layer has a hardness which is greater than that of the outer polymeric layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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