Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catheter assembly generally includes providing a catheter shaft having an outer layer and an inner reinforcing layer; removing at least a portion of the outer layer from a length of the distal end of the catheter shaft in order to expose a distal segment thereof; providing an inner jacket segment; axially engaging the inner jacket segment with an interior surface of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; providing an outer jacket segment around at least the exposed exterior region of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; and bonding the distal segment of the catheter shaft to the inner jacket segment and the outer jacket segment.

Abstract: A catheter includes a body having a proximal region that extends along a longitudinal axis, a distal region predisposed into a loop via shaping wire, and a neck region between the proximal and distal regions. The loop is disposed in a plane generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. An activation wire is coupled to the distal region and to an actuator in a manner that allows a user to adjust the radius of the loop. The activation and shaping wires are contained within a tube-shaped constraint, such as a spring coil, within the neck in order to the neck from nodding when the activation wire is activated.

Abstract: A catheter includes a proximal shaft and a distal shaft having differing diameters; often, the distal shaft will have a smaller diameter than the proximal shaft. A coupling joins the distal shaft to the proximal shaft. For example, a proximal portion of the distal shaft can be inserted into the coupling through its distal end, while the proximal portion of the coupling can be inserted into the proximal shaft through its distal end. To provide an atraumatic transition from the distal shaft to the proximal shaft, coupling can taper towards its distal end, for example by using a dome- or frustoconical-shape for the distal portion of the coupling. The exterior of the coupling can be ribbed to facilitate bonding to the proximal shaft. The distal shaft can be formed into at least a partial loop having a fixed or variable radius of curvature.

Abstract: A catheter includes a proximal shaft and a distal shaft having differing diameters; often, the distal shaft will have a smaller diameter than the proximal shaft. A coupling joins the distal shaft to the proximal shaft. For example, a proximal portion of the distal shaft can be inserted into the coupling through its distal end, while the proximal portion of the coupling can be inserted into the proximal shaft through its distal end. To provide an atraumatic transition from the distal shaft to the proximal shaft, coupling can taper towards its distal end, for example by using a dome- or frustoconical-shape for the distal portion of the coupling. The exterior of the coupling can be ribbed to facilitate bonding to the proximal shaft. The distal shaft can be formed into at least a partial loop having a fixed or variable radius of curvature.

Abstract: A catheter includes a proximal shaft and a distal shaft having differing diameters; often, the distal shaft will have a smaller diameter than the proximal shaft. A coupling joins the distal shaft to the proximal shaft. For example, a proximal portion of the distal shaft can be inserted into the coupling through its distal end, while the proximal portion of the coupling can be inserted into the proximal shaft through its distal end. To provide an atraumatic transition from the distal shaft to the proximal shaft, coupling can taper towards its distal end, for example by using a dome- or frustoconical-shape for the distal portion of the coupling. The exterior of the coupling can be ribbed to facilitate bonding to the proximal shaft. The distal shaft can be formed into at least a partial loop having a fixed or variable radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catheter assembly generally includes providing a catheter shaft having an outer layer and an inner reinforcing layer; removing at least a portion of the outer layer from a length of the distal end of the catheter shaft in order to expose a distal segment thereof; providing an inner jacket segment; axially engaging the inner jacket segment with an interior surface of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; providing an outer jacket segment around at least the exposed exterior region of the distal segment of the catheter shaft; and bonding the distal segment of the catheter shaft to the inner jacket segment and the outer jacket segment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible tubular body for a medical device includes extruding an inner layer from a thermoplastic polymer, pulling it over a mandrel, and tightening it down. If wire lumens were not formed in the inner layer when extruded, polymer spaghetti tubes with wire lumens are laid along the outer surface of the inner layer. Deflection wires are fed into the wire lumens. A wire braid is placed over the inner layer (and spaghetti tubes, if present) and tightened down. The components are encased in an outer polymer layer and a heat shrinkable tube. Pressurized fluid is injected into each wire lumen to maintain the internal diameter thereof greater than the diameter of the deflection wire received therein. Heat is applied to the assembled components, causing the layers to laminate. Once the laminated body has cooled, the heat-shrinkable tube is removed.

Abstract: A catheter includes a body having a proximal region that extends along a longitudinal axis, a distal region predisposed into a loop via shaping wire, and a neck region between the proximal and distal regions. The loop is disposed in a plane generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. An activation wire is coupled to the distal region and to an actuator in a manner that allows a user to adjust the radius of the loop. The activation and shaping wires are contained within a tube-shaped constraint, such as a spring coil, within the neck in order to the neck from nodding when the activation wire is activated.

Abstract: A catheter includes a proximal shaft and a distal shaft having differing diameters; often, the distal shaft will have a smaller diameter than the proximal shaft. A coupling joins the distal shaft to the proximal shaft. For example, a proximal portion of the distal shaft can be inserted into the coupling through its distal end, while the proximal portion of the coupling can be inserted into the proximal shaft through its distal end. To provide an atraumatic transition from the distal shaft to the proximal shaft, coupling can taper towards its distal end, for example by using a dome- or frustoconical-shape for the distal portion of the coupling. The exterior of the coupling can be ribbed to facilitate bonding to the proximal shaft. The distal shaft can be formed into at least a partial loop having a fixed or variable radius of curvature.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of manufacturing a flexible tubular body for catheter, sheath or similar medical device. The method comprises pre-extruding an inner layer of the body from a thermoplastic polymer and then pulling the inner layer over a mandrel and tightening the layer down. If wire lumens were not integrally formed in the inner layer when pre-extruded, then two polymer spaghetti tubes, each with wire lumens, are laid 180 degrees apart axially along the outer surface of the inner layer. Deflection wires are then fed into the wire lumens. A cylindrical wire braid is woven or pulled over the inner layer (and the spaghetti tubes, as the case may be) and tightened down. The aforementioned components are then encased in an outer polymer layer. A heat-shrinkable tube is then placed over the outer layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of manufacturing a flexible tubular body for catheter, sheath or similar medical device. The method comprises pre-extruding an inner layer of the body from a thermoplastic polymer and then pulling the inner layer over a mandrel and tightening the layer down. If wire lumens were not integrally formed in the inner layer when pre-extruded, then two polymer spaghetti tubes, each with wire lumens, are laid 180 degrees apart axially along the outer surface of the inner layer. Deflection wires are then fed into the wire lumens. A cylindrical wire braid is woven or pulled over the inner layer (and the spaghetti tubes, as the case may be) and tightened down. The aforementioned components are then encased in an outer polymer layer. A heat-shrinkable tube is then placed over the outer layer.