Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Thomas Haslinger

John Arthur Simpson

Jeong Soo Lee

Neftali Fernandez

Bruce M Wilson

Hector Torres

Catheter includes an outer shaft member having a proximal section and a distal outer member. The outer shaft has an inflation lumen defined therethrough. A balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and has a proximal balloon shaft, a proximal cone portion, a working length, a distal cone portion, and a distal balloon shaft. Catheter also includes a monolithic inner tubular member extending from the outer shaft proximal section through the distal outer member and through the balloon to form a tip. The distal balloon shaft has an inner diameter and comprises a distal seal portion coupled to the inner tubular member and a proximal portion free of attachment to the inner tubular member. The length of the proximal portion of the distal balloon shaft is at least about two times the inner diameter of the distal balloon shaft. Methods of making a catheter are also provided.

Balloon catheter

Elongate, flexible catheter includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therein. The shaft has an inner layer comprising an amorphous polyamide having a Shore D durometer value of greater than 78, and an outer layer comprising a semi-crystalline polyamide or copolyamide having a Shore D durometer value of less than 76. The outer layer is thinner than the inner layer. The shaft has an increased resistance to kinking as compared to a similar shaft of a single layer of the amorphous polyamide having a Shore D durometer value of greater than 78.

Robust catheter tubing

A balloon catheter having a multilayer catheter shaft is formed to have an inner layer and an outer layer, where the inner layer and outer layer are selected from materials that enhance the pushability of the catheter while preserving the flexibility. Using a combination of a high Shore D duromater value material and a lower Shore D duromater value material, various combinations of multilayer catheter shafts are disclosed utilizing different glass transition temperatures and block copolyamides to obtain the desired characteristics.

A catheter body having a variable stiffness along its longitudinal length and a method for manufacturing same is disclosed wherein an inner layer having an uninterrupted length serves as a backbone for segments of coextrusion of, e.g., Pebax or nylon and a tie layer which are then bonded to the backbone to create a multi-stiffness catheter body.

Apparatus and method of making a variable stiffness multilayer catheter tubing

A balloon catheter having a radiopaque coil embedded in the catheter's body corresponding to a landmark of the balloon or other location on the catheter body. The radiopaque coil can be viewed under fluoroscopy to located the balloon or other structure of the catheter. The coil can be readily inserted in the manufacturing process by inserting it between two layers that form the catheter body, and then sealing the coil inside the catheter at the desired location. This facilitates both the manufacturing process and prevents the marker from being dislodged during the manufacturing, navigation, or inflation process.

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Sun City, CA, United States of America

Thomas Haslinger