High flexibility, kink resistant catheter shaft

Abstract

An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft having an elongate flexible body with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal, flexible section on the body has a ribbed or corrugated tubular membrane having at least a first reinforcement structure, such as a first helical support, on a radially exterior or interior surface of the membrane and optionally a second reinforcement structure, such as a second helical support, on the other of the radially interior or exterior surface of the membrane

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 647,763, filed Jul. 12, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 361,984, filed Jul. 13, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.[0002]Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.BACKGROUNDField[0003]The present disclosure relates to a flexible catheter for endovascular procedures.Description of the Related Art[0004]Nearly all endovascular procedures require the use of flexible catheters, for example, to deliver contrast injection, to deliver implantable devices, perform vascular procedures, or to aspirate. Due to the tortuous nature of the vasculature, it is important for catheters to be flexible enough to travel through vessels...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present disclosure describes catheter shaft designs that are more flexible than conventional shafts and have unique properties such as relative independence of catheter diameter and stiffness, as well as improved kink resistance. The catheter shafts allow larger diameter catheters to pass through tortuous blood vessels and to more distal anatomy. The flexibility is achieved by controlling hinging of a tubular membrane during bending, which reduces the tendency of the membrane to buckle or kink at a focal bending point. The membrane is supported by inner and outer coils or an ultra-thin layer of plastic that does not restrict the pleating of the membrane. The flexible, kink-resistant catheter has a floating tubular support with a helical channel that allows free movement of the wire helix. Overall, the invention facilitates advancement of catheter technology towards improved flexibility and kink resistance.

Problems solved by technology

However, there is generally a trade-off between the features of catheter diameter, trackability, flexibility, and kink resistance.

An increase in catheter diameter tends to increase its stiffness, which lowers its trackability and may dangerously increase vascular sheer forces.

However, when the resulting reinforced tube is flexed, a great deal of energy goes into stretching the plastic matrix on the outside curve and compressing the plastic matrix on the inside curve of the tube.

Further, varying the durometer creates potential kinking points at the durometer transition points.

This conventional construction also provides limited force transmission or pushability due to buckling or ovalization of the distal shaft.

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