Rapid exchange catheter having a support mandrel
Catheters designed for intravascular procedures such as angioplasty must have a number of characteristics. Such catheters must be able to transmit force along the length of the catheter shaft to allow it to be pushed through the patient's vasculature. However, the catheter shaft must also retai...
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| Format | Patent |
| Language | English |
| Published |
08.07.2003
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| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Catheters designed for intravascular procedures such as angioplasty must have a number of characteristics. Such catheters must be able to transmit force along the length of the catheter shaft to allow it to be pushed through the patient's vasculature. However, the catheter shaft must also retain sufficient flexibility to allow it to track over a guidewire through the often tortuous vasculature. Additionally, the catheter must be able to cross stenosed portions of the vascular anatomy. Prior art designs have supplemented polymer catheter shafts with a stiffening wire or mandrel.
Rapid exchange catheters having improved pushability and trackability due to a support mandrel disposed within the inflation lumen. The mandrel is secured at the proximal end of the catheter shaft while the free distal end extends beyond the proximal guidewire port. In an alternative embodiment, the catheter shaft further comprises a sleeve in the inflation lumen that secures a distal section of the support mandrel. The distal end of the mandrel extends beyond the sleeve. |
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