Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Stephen J Tiernan

Jeong Soo Lee

Kenneth L Wantink

Stephen G Schaible

Mina W B Chow

Alan A Tannier

An apparatus and method for providing a co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft. A co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft may be fabricated by selecting a first material for the inner layer of the shaft and a second material for the outer layer of the shaft. The first and second materials are then co-extruded by a co-extrusion system including a puller with programmable tapering capabilities. The system forms a hollow tubing having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the tubing has the desired tapered characteristics. The result is a tapered tubular shaft having an inner layer and an outer layer.

Co-extruded taper shaft

A method of forming a thin-walled polymeric tubular member for an intralumenal device, and the member produced thereby. The thin-walled tubular member extruded using the method of the invention is suitable for use a sleeve for a catheter shaft or balloon. The thin-walled tubular member has a single wall thickness of not greater than about 0.003 inch (0.0076 cm). In the method of the invention, the thin-walled tubular member is formed by co-extruding a thin-walled first polymer layer with a removable second polymer layer, and the two layers are separated by dissolution or physical removal of the second layer, to leave the first layer, with the first polymer layer forming the thin-walled tubular member. Because the method of the invention involves co-extruding a removable second polymer layer along with the thin-walled first polymer layer, conventional tooling dimensions in the extruder may be used.

Method of forming a thin walled member by extrusion and medical device produced thereby

The invention is directed to a catheter formed at least in part of a multilayered member having a first layer which is fusion bondable to another catheter component such as the skirt of an inflatable balloon and a second layer which is adjacent the first layer having a melting point greater than the first layer so that the multilayered member of the catheter is not deformed when the other catheter component is fusion bonded to the first layer of the multilayered member. The second layer is preferably lubricious in nature. In one embodiment of the invention, the multilayered member is a tubular element with the lubricious second layer defining an inner lumen extending within the tubular element. The outer layer of the tubular member may extend beyond the distal end of the inner layer and form a non-traumatic distal tip. Alternatively, a flexible non-traumatic distal tip may be fusion bonded to at least the outer layer of the multilayered tubular member.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Stephen J Tiernan