Double helix reinforced catheter

Abstract

The intravascular catheter has a polymeric inner tube, a reinforcing inner jacket which is spirally wound over the inner tube and which becomes progressively softer from a proximal end to a distal end, and a polymeric outer sheath extruded over the inner jacket. The reinforcing jacket includes helical coiled wires wound over the inner tube in order to provide improved multi-axial mechanical properties.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An intravascular catheter, comprising:
 a polymeric inner tube having a distal segment and a proximal segment;   a first helical coiled wire wound over a surface of said distal segment of said polymeric inner tube, said first helical coiled wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion;   a second helical coiled wire wound over a surface of said proximal segment of said polymeric inner tube; and   a third helical coiled wire wound over said surface of said proximal segment of said polymeric inner tube, over said proximal portion of said first helical coiled wire, and under said second helical coiled wire.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one radiopaque marker formed over said distal segment of said polymeric inner tube, 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque polymer covering. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric outer tube shrink wrapped over said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 3 , further comprising a polymeric outer tube shrink wrapped over said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube, wherein said at least one radiopaque marker includes cut ends secured over said polymeric inner tube by said radiopaque polymer covering and said polymeric outer tube. 
     
     
         6 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric outer tube extruded over said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube. 
     
     
         7 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 3 , further comprising a polymeric outer tube extruded over said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube, wherein said at least one radiopaque marker includes cut ends secured over said polymeric inner tube by said radiopaque polymer covering and said polymeric outer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 4 , wherein said polymeric outer tube is bonded to said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube. 
     
     
         9 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 5 , wherein said polymeric outer tube is bonded to said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube. 
     
     
         10 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric outer tube is bonded to said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube. 
     
     
         11 . The intravascular catheter of  claim 7 , wherein said polymeric outer tube is bonded to said proximal and distal segments of said polymeric inner tube.