Catheter with composite stiffener

Abstract

A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device, comprising:
 an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;   a non-metallic ribbon stiffener disposed along both the proximal region and the distal region and extending at least partially circumferentially about the catheter shaft; and   a metallic ribbon stiffener disposed along the proximal region and interwoven together with the non-metallic ribbon stiffener;   wherein the distal region of the catheter shaft is free of the metallic ribbon stiffener.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter shaft has a first flexibility along the proximal region and a second, different, flexibility along the distal region. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic ribbon stiffener extends helically about the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the non-metallic ribbon stiffener has a constant pitch along the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the non-metallic ribbon stiffener has a variable pitch along the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic ribbon stiffener extends at least partially circumferentially about the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the metallic ribbon stiffener extends helically about the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the metallic ribbon stiffener has a constant pitch along the proximal region of the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the metallic ribbon stiffener has a variable pitch along the proximal region of the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic ribbon stiffener includes polyether block amide, polyetheretherketone, polyimide, liquid crystal polymer, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or polyaramid. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic ribbon stiffener includes carbon fiber. 
     
     
         12 . A medical device, comprising:
 a tubular member having a proximal region and a distal region;   a polymeric ribbon disposed along both the proximal region and the distal region and extending at least partially circumferentially about the tubular member; and   a metallic ribbon disposed along the proximal region and extending at least partially circumferentially about the tubular member;   wherein the polymeric ribbon and the metallic ribbon are interwoven together to define a braid comprising both the polymeric ribbon and the metallic ribbon along the proximal region.   
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the distal region of the tubular member is free of the metallic ribbon. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the polymeric ribbon extends helically about the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the polymeric ribbon has a constant pitch along the tubular member. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the polymeric ribbon has a variable pitch along the tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the metallic ribbon extends helically about the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic ribbon has a constant pitch along the tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic ribbon has a variable pitch along the tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the first stiffener includes polyether block amide, polyetheretherketone, polyimide, liquid crystal polymer, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or polyaramid.