The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
May. 28, 1999
Peter Lunn, Beverly, MA (US);
Nasser Rafiee, Andover, MA (US);
Charles Daugherty, Jamestown, OH (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An intravascular medical catheter and method of manufacturing a medical catheter are provided herein. The medical catheter includes a catheter shaft having an inner liner, a reinforcing section and an outer shell. As provided herein, a groove is formed in the outer shell of the catheter shaft near a distal end of the catheter shaft with a laser. The groove can be filled with a fill section which is made of a relatively soft material. This improves the flexibility of the distal end so that the medical catheter has improved tracking and movement in the body vessel. Further, because the reinforcing section is continuous under the groove, the catheter shaft is durable and inhibits kinking during movement in the body vessel.