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 catheter tubing comprising:
 a tubular body having an axial length, the tubular body comprising at least a base material having a base material structural property;   a first material section extending spirally along a first region of the axial length and within a wall of the tubular body, the first material section comprising a first structural property, where the first structural property and the base material structural property are different;   a second material section extending spirally along a second region of the axial length and within the wall of the tubular body, the second material section comprising a second structural property, where the second structural property is different than the first structural property; and   where at an end of the first region the first material section ends and is replaced by the second material section.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter tubing of  claim 1 , where the tubular body comprises a second region having a second base material and where the second base material is joined to an end of the base material. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter tubing of  claim 2 , where at least the second material section extends spirally along the second region. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter tubing of  claim 2 , where the base material structural property and the second base material structural property are different. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter tubing of  claim 2 , where the base material structural property and the second base material structural property are the same and where the base material is visually distinguishable from the second base material.