Catheter construction

Abstract

Polymeric tubing, for use with catheters or other medical devices, where the polymeric tubing can have regions of customized properties including, but not limited to, durometer, torque control, flexibility, axial strength, stiffness, etc. One variation of the device allows for transitions between regions to be configured such that there can be gradual or customized transitions between various regions such that the structural characteristics differential between the regions are selectively designed. Additional variations include outer layers having a plurality of material sections extending in a spiral direction along the axial length to form a continuous wall of the outer layer. In certain variations, the structural characteristic differential is minimized or eliminated as compared to conventional catheters.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A catheter construction comprising:
 a composite tubing having an axial length, the composite tubing comprising a plurality of material sections each respectively having a width measured along the axial length, the plurality of material sections extends in a spiral direction, the composite tubing having a first lengthwise region, a second lengthwise region, and a transition region therebetween;   wherein at the first lengthwise region the plurality of material sections includes a first material section and a second material section, where a structural property of the first material section is different than a structural property of the second material section to cause the first lengthwise region to have a first structural characteristic;   wherein the second material section terminates at an end and a third material section is joined to the end of the second material section, where the structural property of the second material section is different than a structural property of the third material section; and   wherein the first material section and the third material section spirally extend along the second lengthwise region causing a structural characteristic of the second lengthwise region to be different than the structural characteristic of the first lengthwise region.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , where the composite tubing further comprises an inner liner and a reinforcement structure exterior to the inner liner, where the composite tubing extends over the reinforcement structure and inner liner. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , where the width of the first material section and the width of the second material section changes along the first lengthwise region. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the first material section and the width of the second material section inversely change along the first lengthwise region such that as the width of the first material section increases or decrease, the width of the second material section decreases or increases respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the composite tubing includes a proximal lengthwise region proximal to the first lengthwise region, where the proximal lengthwise region is entirely formed from the first material section. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the composite tubing includes a distal lengthwise region distal to the first lengthwise region, where the distal lengthwise region is entirely formed from the second material section. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material sections further comprises at least a fourth material section adjacent to the second material section. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter construction of  claim 7 , wherein the composite tubing includes a distal lengthwise region distal to the first lengthwise region, where the distal lengthwise region is entirely formed from the fourth material section. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter construction of  claim 7 , where a structural property of the fourth material section differs from both the structural property of the first material section and the structural property of the second material section. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter construction of  claim 7 , where a structural property of the fourth material section is the same as the structural property of the first material section. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter construction of  claim 7 , wherein the fourth material section extends over an entirety of the axial length of the composite tubing. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the first material section is different than the width of the second material section in at least a first section of the composite tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein in at least a second section of the composite tubing, the plurality of material sections comprises at least three or more distinct material sections. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral direction of the first material section and the second material section comprises a right-hand wind. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter construction of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral direction of the first material section and the second material section comprises a left-hand wind.