High flexibility, kink resistant catheter shaft

Abstract

An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft having an elongate flexible body with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal, flexible section on the body has a ribbed or corrugated tubular membrane having at least a first reinforcement structure, such as a first helical support, on a radially exterior or interior surface of the membrane and optionally a second reinforcement structure, such as a second helical support, on the other of the radially interior or exterior surface of the membrane

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft, comprising:
 an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough;   a distal, flexible section on the body, comprising a tubular membrane having a first helical support on a radially exterior surface of the membrane and a second helical support on a radially interior surface of the membrane.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein an inside diameter of the first helical support is less than an inside diameter of the second helical support. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the first and second helical supports is floating with respect to the tubular membrane. 
     
     
         38 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 37 , wherein both of the first and second helical supports are floating with respect to the tubular membrane. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein the membrane comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein the tubular membrane comprises a helical pleat. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein the distal, flexible section has an outer an outer diameter of at least about 6 French and a % bending load of no more than about 50. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 31 , wherein the distal, flexible section has an outer diameter of at least about 8 French and a % bending load of no more than about 60. 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft, comprising:
 an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough;   a distal, flexible section on the body, comprising a tubular membrane having an outside surface with a plurality of radially outwardly extending annular ribs spaced apart by radially inwardly extending recesses, and an inside surface with a plurality of radially inwardly facing annular concavities corresponding to the radially outwardly extending annular ribs, and   an annular support carried within at least one of the radially inwardly extending recesses and the radially inwardly facing annular concavities.   
     
     
         61 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 60 , wherein the plurality of radially outwardly extending annular ribs comprise revolutions of a continuous helical rib. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 61 , comprising a first helical support extending within the radially inwardly extending recesses. 
     
     
         64 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 63 , comprising a second helical support extending within the radially inwardly facing annular concavities. 
     
     
         65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 64 , wherein the membrane extends in between the first helical support and the second helical support without being bonded to either of the first helical support and the second helical support along a length of the distal section. 
     
     
         68 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft, comprising:
 an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough;   a distal, flexible section on the body, comprising a corrugated tubular membrane;   a first spiral support carried on the outside surface of the tubular membrane; and   a second spiral support carried on the inside surface of the tubular membrane;   wherein at least one of the first and second spiral supports is floating with respect to the adjacent membrane.   
     
     
         69 . An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft as in  claim 68 , wherein
 both of the first and second spiral supports are floating with respect to the adjacent membrane.   
     
     
         70 . (canceled)