Abstract: A catheter having at least two lengths of tubular material axially joined together by a scarf joint with no perceptible change in outer diameter at the joint; the scarf joint including a substantially axially oriented seam component between the two lengths of tubular material with the seam visible along the peripheral surfaces of the axially joined sections and extending at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the catheter; and wherein one of the at least two lengths of tubular material includes an inner tubular reinforcement layer, wherein the reinforcement layer forms part of the scarf joint.

Abstract: A catheter having at least two lengths of tubular material axially joined together by a welded joint with no perceptible change in diameter at the welded joint; the welded joint including a substantial axially oriented seam between the two lengths of material.

Abstract: A method of forming a catheter comprising the steps of a) loading an inner layer on a mandrel; b) loading a reinforcing braid layer over the inner layer; c) adding a terminal tip to one end of the inner layer, the terminal tip applied directly over the inner layer with no portion of the reinforcing braid therebetween; d) loading a plurality of axial jacket sections over the braid layer, one of the axial jacket sections engaging an adjacent one of the plurality of axial jacket sections along a joint including substantially axially oriented seams; e) applying a shrink tube over the plurality of axial jacket sections and heating the shrink tube to cause the plurality of axial jacket sections to bond with each other, the braid layer and the inner layer; f) removing the shrink tube; and g) removing the mandrel.

Abstract: In a method of forming a catheter having an inner layer, an intermediate braided layer and an outer jacket, wherein the intermediate braided layer terminates axially before the inner layer, leaving a forward end portion of the inner layer exposed, the steps of:a) before applying the outer jacket, loading a plastic sleeve over a forward end of the intermediate braided layer adjacent the forward end portion of the inner layer;b) heating the plastic sleeve to a temperature sufficient to melt the plastic sleeve;c) loading a terminal tip having an axial length over a forward end portion of the inner layer into abutting relationship with the forward end of the intermediate braided layer such that the terminal tip is supported by the forward end portion of the inner layer along all of the axial length of the terminal tip and not reinforced anywhere along the axial length by the intermediate braided layer;d) loading the outer jacket over the braided layer;e) loading a shrink tube over the outer jacket; andf) heating

Abstract: A catheter having at least two lengths of tubular material axially joined together by a welded joint with no perceptible change in diameter at the welded joint; the welded joint including a substantial axially oriented seam between the two lengths of material.