Catheter

Abstract

A catheter according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a flexible tubular insert section having, in the outer surface of the distal end side of the insert section, a plurality of notches arranged in the longitudinal direction of the insert section on one side of a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the insert section, an operating wire passed through the insert section and capable of advancing or retreating to bend the distal end side of the insert section having the notches, and a reinforcing tube put on the insert section to cover substantially the overall length of the whole region of the insert section, except the distal end side of the insert section on which the notches are formed, and to restrain longitudinal compression of the insert section.

1 . A catheter comprising: 
 a flexible tubular insert section having a longitudinal central axis defining a first imaginary plane dividing the insert section into first and second regions on both sides thereof, the insert section having a distal end portion;    an operating wire provided in the first region to extend in the longitudinal central axis of the insert section and capable of advancing or retreating to bend the distal end portion of said insert section; and    at least two reinforcing wires provided in the first region, extending along the longitudinal central axis,    the flexible tubular insert section including at least one lumen extending along the longitudinal central axis, the lumen having an opening formed in the distal end portion and a central axis parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tubular insertion section, and allowing fluid and/or a medical instrument to pass through the lumen and project from the opening,    wherein a second imaginary plane passing the central axis of the lumen and the operating wire is positioned between the reinforcing wires.    
     
     
         2 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing tube which covers the insert section except the distal end portion.  
     
     
         3 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the central axis of the lumen is positioned in the second region of the insert section.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter comprising: 
 a flexible tubular insert section having a longitudinal central axis defining a first imaginary plane dividing the insertion section into first and second regions on both sides thereof, the insert section having a distal end portion;    an operating wire provided in the first region to extend in the longitudinal central axis of the insert section and capable of advancing or a retreating to bend the distal end of the insert section at a bend portion; and    at least two reinforcing wires provided in the first region, extending along the longitudinal central axis,    the flexible tubular insert section including at least one lumen extending along the longitudinal central axis, the lumen having an opening formed in the distal end portion and a central axis parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tubular insertion section, and allowing fluid and/or a medical instrument to pass through the lumen and project from the opening,    wherein an imaginary straight line passing a central point of a cross section of the bend portion normal to the longitudinal central axis, the insert section and a longitudinal central axis of the operating wire is extended between the reinforcing wires to cross a line passing the reinforcing wires.    
     
     
         5 . A catheter according to  claim 4 , wherein the operating wire and lumen are positioned to sandwich an imaginary straight line at least in a region of the bend portion, the imaginary straight line passing two reinforcing wires.  
     
     
         6 . A catheter according to  claim 3 , wherein a third imaginary plane passing two reinforcing wires divides the insertion section into both elongated areas, and the operating wire and lumen are respectively positioned in the areas to sandwich the third imaginary plane.  
     
     
         7 . A catheter according to  claim 3 , wherein a distance between one reinforcing wire and the operating wire equals a distance between the other reinforcing wire and the operating wire.  
     
     
         8 . A catheter according to  claim 7 , wherein a distance between one reinforcing wire and an elongated central axis of the lumen equals a distance between the other reinforcing wire and the elongated central axis of the lumen.