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 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.

1 . A medical tubing comprising:
 a tubular body having an axis extending lengthwise, the tubular body having a wall formed from a plurality of material sections that extend spirally along the axis, where each of the plurality of material sections includes a width; and   wherein the plurality of material sections includes a transition material section extending in a continuous spiral over both a first region and a second region, wherein a first width of the transition material section is consistent at the first region and where the transition material section decreases at a stepdown region to a second width, which is consistent at the second region.   
     
     
         2 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , where in the first region the transition material section comprises a first material and in the second region, the transition material section comprises a second material. 
     
     
         3 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , where a length of the stepdown region is less than the first width. 
     
     
         4 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner liner that is interior to the tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The medical tubing of  claim 4 , further comprising a reinforcement structure exterior to the inner liner. 
     
     
         6 . The medical tubing of  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement structure is embedded within the wall. 
     
     
         7 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material sections extends in in a right-hand wind direction in the first region. 
     
     
         8 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material sections extends in in a left-hand wind direction in the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of material sections comprises a non-fusable material. 
     
     
         10 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , further comprising a soft distal tip section. 
     
     
         11 . The medical tubing of  claim 10 , wherein the soft distal tip section comprises a single material. 
     
     
         12 . The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body comprises a proximal region located proximally to both the first region and the second region, the proximal region comprising a single material.