Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a catheter body which is made up of an inner tube formed of a metal or an alloy and an outer tube formed of a synthetic resin covering the outside surface of the inner tube. The inner tube has one or more spiral slits in the distal end portion. A vascular dilatation instrument includes an inner tube, an outer tube disposed coaxially around the inner tube, and an inflatable member having one end attached to the inner tube and another end attached to the outer tube. At least one of the inner tube and the outer tube includes a main body section based on a tube formed of a metal or alloy and a distal section made of a synthetic resin. The tube made of the metal or the alloy has one or more spiral slits in the distal end portion. The metal is selected from the group consisting of steel, tungsten and copper. The alloy is selected from the group consisting of steel alloy, tungsten alloy and copper alloy.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a catheter body which is made up of an inner tube formed of a metal or a alloy and an outer tube formed of a synthetic resin covering the outside surface of the inner tube. The inner tube has one or more spiral slits in the distal end portion. A vascular dilatation instrument includes an inner tube, an outer tube disposed coaxially around the inner tube, an inflatable member having one end attached to the inner tube and another end attached to the outer tube. At least one of the inner tube and the outer tube includes a main body section based on a tube formed of a metal or alloy and a distal section made of a synthetic resin. The tube made of the metal or the alloy has one or more spiral slits in the distal end portion. The metal is selected from the grope consisting of steel, tungsten and copper. The alloy is selected from the grope of steel alloy, tungsten alloy and copper alloy.

Abstract: A blood vessel piercing instrument includes an outer tube assembly and an inner needle assembly. The outer tube assembly has an outer tube and an outer tube hub attached to the rear end portion of said outer tube. The outer tube has a metal tubular member made of a superelastic metal and a resin tubular member which covers the outside surface of the metal tubular member and has the front end portion extending beyond the front end of the metal tubular member. The inner needle assembly includes an inner needle which is extractably inserted in said outer tube assembly and has a piercing edged surface formed at the front end protruding from said outer tube and an inner needle hub which is attached to the rear end portion of said inner needle and engages with the rear end of said outer tube hub. An inside diameter of said front end portion of said resin tubular member is smaller than the inside diameter of said metal tubular member and substantially equal to an outside diameter of said inner needle.

Abstract: A vascular dilatation instrument 1 includes an outer tube 2, an inner tube 5 extending through the outer tube 2, and an inflatable member 3 having one end attached to the inner tube 5 and another end attached to the outer tube 2. The outer tube 2 includes a superelastic or pseudoelastic metal tube 2b and a synthetic resin tube 2a covering the metal tube, the metal tube 2b having a distal zone provided with a slit or perforations 2e so that the distal zone is more flexible and deformable than the remainder of the metal tube. Also provided is a catheter 100 comprising a main body section which includes a superelastic metal tube 101 and a synthetic resin layer 104 covering the metal tube, the metal tube 101 having a distal zone provided with a slit or perforations 106 so that the distal zone is more flexible and deformable than the remainder of the metal tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catheter which is introduced into a blood vessel for the treatment or inspection of a diseased portion in the blood vessel. For facilitating the introducing operation of the catheter, a super-elastic wire is housed in the catheter body in a manner to extend in the longitudinal direction of the catheter body. The super-elastic wire may be fixed within the lumen of the catheter body, may be detachably provided, or may be embedded in a part of the catheter body. The exposed surface of the catheter body or the super-elastic wire may be covered with a layer of a watersoluble high molecular weight material. Also, an X-ray intransmissible material may be applied to the exposed surface of the catheter body or the super-elastic wire.

Abstract: A catheter guide wire is for use in guiding of a catheter to a destination position in vessels in body and comprises a solid core wire of a Ti-Ni shape memory alloy and an outer jacket covering the core wire. In order to provide a plasticity to one end portion of the core wire, at least one end portion is made of a 45.0-51.0 at % Ni-0.5-5.0 at % Fe-Ti shape memory alloy and is heat treated at 400.degree.-500.degree. C. The end portion is provided with a pseudo elasticity at a temperature about 37.degree. and a plasticity at a temperature below 80.degree. C. Alternatively, the end portion may be made of a 50.3-52.0 at % Ni-Ti alloy and is heat treated at a temperature of 700.degree. C. In order to improve operability of the catheter guide wire, the remaining portion other than the end portion is made of provided with a comparatively high rigidity by a usual Ti-Ni shape memory alloy which is not heat treated. Alternatively, the remaining portion is covered with an inorganic layer.