Catheter tip assembled with a spring

Abstract

A catheter tip that provides longitudinal flexibility, pushability and radial rigidity thereby improving deliverability is provided. The catheter tip includes a spring-like element to provide longitudinal flexibility and pushability to the catheter tip. The spring-like element may also provide radial support to the distal edge of the catheter tip. Alternatively, a radially rigid distal end may also be included distal of the spring-like element. The apparatus may be used with any interventional catheter system, but is particularly suitable for use with balloon-expandable stent systems and balloon-angioplasty systems, where flexibility of the catheter tip and minimal flaring of the distal edge of the catheter tip is desirable.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 022,749, filed Feb. 8, 2011, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 303,276, filed Feb. 10, 2010, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 302,683, filed Feb. 9, 2010, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an endovascular catheter, in particular a flexible catheter tip for use, for example, for stent delivery and percutaneous angioplasty. The catheter tip of the invention is specially designed to have features especially useful in percutaneous procedures in which the catheter must traverse stenotic blood vessels, tortuous vessels, or vessels containing previously deployed stents.BACKGROUND[0003]In standard stent delivery systems, the proximal portion of the catheter is manufactured from materials that make it relatively stiff or inflexible, which endows the catheter with adequate pus...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an endovascular catheter tip that is longitudinally flexible, pushable, and radially rigid at its distal end. This allows the catheter to navigate through tortuous vessels and prevents the distal edge from flaring and catching on plaque or stents as it moves through the vessel. The catheter tip includes a spring-like structure that provides longitudinal flexibility and pushability, and a distal end that provides radial rigidity. The catheter tip may also include a flexible tube attached to or integrated with the spring-like element. The catheter tip has enhanced deliverability parameters and higher radio-opacity, which provides valuable feedback to the operator about the position of the catheter tip during insertion of the catheter into the anatomy to be treated.

Problems solved by technology

Optimizing both parameters simultaneously in a catheter tip is problematic, as longitudinal flexibility requires a very thin or flexible material, while pushability and radial rigidity require a thick or stiff material.

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