Abstract: A catheter including an inner liner, a reinforcement layer disposed about the inner liner and having a distal edge separated a predetermined axial distance in a proximal direction from the distal end of the inner liner. The reinforcement layer having a discrete annealed section with an altered crystalline structure having modified (e.g., increased) stiffness relative to non-annealed sections of the reinforcement layer. A marker band is positioned over or adjacent to the distal edge of the reinforcement layer. An outer jacket is disposed about an interim assembled structure including the inner liner, the reinforcement layer, and the marker band to form an assembled structure. During manufacture, heat is applied to reflow together individual components of the assembled structure producing an integral composite catheter shaft.

Abstract: A cerebral vessel access device having a base tube comprising an inner lumen, a shapeable element disposed to one side of the base tube, and an outer jacket covering the base tube and a portion of the shapable element. The shapable element can be configured to deflect from an axis line causing the base tube and outer jacket to deflect along with the shapable element.