Method and system for reduced friction introduction of coaxial catheters

Abstract

Abstract Catheter systems (10) comprising a base catheter (12) and a sleeve catheter (14) are modified to have reduced sliding friction therebetween. The sleeve catheter (14) is received over the base catheter (12), and an inner luminal surface of the sleeve catheter (14) or outer surface (22) of the base catheter (12) is modified to have surface irregularities to reduce sliding friction. Preferably, the surface irregularities are circumferentially spaced-apart V-space peaks (20). Such peaks (20) may be formed by fabricating tubular catheter bodies in an extrusion tool having a mold or die with correspondingly shaped V-shaped grooves therein. Alternatively, the surface irregularities may be imparted using a mold or mandrel which is placed over or in a tubular catheter body, where the desired geometry is transferred by heating the catheter.

Inventors

• 👤 Enrique J. Klein

Bibliographic Details