Catheter with enhanced reinforcement

Abstract

An intracorporeal catheter such as a guiding catheter employed for intravascular procedures which generally has an elongated catheter shaft with a polymeric wall with a multistrand reinforcing structure wherein the strands at a plurality of cross point locations of the reinforcing structure are secured together to hold at least part of the braided reinforcing structure in a desired shape for utilization. The strands may be metallic or polymeric or mixtures thereof. The strands can be secured together at the cross points thereof by a variety of ways. In one embodiment a plurality of the strands forming the reinforcing structure are formed of metal and are provided with a coating of solder so that the strands can be secured together by applying heat to the strands at the cross point locations to melt the solder and allow a solidified solder connection between the strands to be formed upon cooling while holding at least the portion of the reinforcing structure having secured cross points while holding the portion of the reinforcing structure in the desire shape. Other embodiment involve other methods of securing the strands at the cross points including welding, brazing, adhesives or mechanical connections.