Abstract: An intravascular catheter (10,110) having an elongated tubular body with a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular body is formed with polymeric materials, preferably containing no radiopaque filler, and metallic reinforcing braiding (22,130) configured to provide the catheter (10,110) with radiopaque properties and/or kink resistance.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having an elongated tubular body with a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular body is formed with polymeric materials, preferably containing no radiopaque filler, and metallic reinforcing braiding configured to provide the catheter with radiopaque properties and/or kink resistance.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed having a proximal shaft formed from an inner liner formed from a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, an outer jacket formed from a blend of nylon and polyether block amide or polyether block amide alone, and a soft flexible tip affixed to the distal end of the proximal shaft formed from polyether block amide. A stem may be located between the proximal shaft and the soft flexible tip. The stem has an outer jacket formed from a proximal stem transition sleeve with a tapered distal end and a distal stem sleeve with a complementary tapered proximal end connected to the tapered distal end of the proximal stem transition sleeve. The stem transition sleeve and the stem sleeve are both formed from polyether block amide alone or a blend of polyether block amide and nylon. The outer jacket may be the same hardness as or harder than the stem transition sleeve which in turn is harder than the stem sleeve and the soft flexible tip.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having an elongated tubular body with a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular body is formed with: (a) a first layer of polytetrafluoroethylene; (b) a reinforcing means at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and (c) a second layer comprising a blend of polyetherester elastomer and polybutylene terephthalate at least partially covering the second layer.

Abstract: A drill employed for drilling holes in airframes is provided with means to rotate the drill bit during retraction and means to control the rate of retraction of the drill bit from the hole in a manner to prevent the formation of axial scratches in the wall of the hole.