Catheter having selectively varied lamination

1. A medical catheter adapted for use within a body vessel, the medical catheter comprising:

a tubular catheter shaft comprising an inner liner surrounded by an outer shell, the shaft having a distal end that fits within the body vessel;

wherein the catheter shaft comprises at least one region of selectively varied lamination providing one or more areas of reduced bonding or no bonding at all between an outer surface of the inner liner and an inner surface of the outer shell; and

wherein the selectively varied lamination includes one of the following:

a) a thermoplastic bond between the inner liner and the outer shell wherein the one or more areas of reduced bonding or no bonding at all comprise a thermal bond inhibiting agent; or

b) an adhesive bond layer between the inner liner and the outer shell, an adhesively bonded outer surface of the inner liner comprising a bond enhancing treatment; or

c) a thermoplastic tie layer melt-bonded between the inner liner and the outer shell, the tie layer comprising one or more open sections to provide the one or more areas of reduced bonding or no bonding at all; or

d) an adhesive layer bonding the inner liner to the outer shell, the adhesive layer comprising a pattern of bonded sections and non-bonded sections.

2. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein at least one region of selectively varied lamination comprises diamond-shaped or oval-shaped non-laminated sections.

3. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein at least one region of selectively varied lamination comprises non-laminated sections, wherein the size of the non-laminated sections increases towards the distal end.

4. The medical catheter of claim 3 wherein at least one region of selectively varied lamination comprises laminated sections between non-laminated sections, wherein the size of the laminated sections between the non-laminated sections decreases towards the distal end.

5. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein at least one region of selectively varied lamination comprises non-laminated sections, wherein the non-laminated sections form circumferentially arranged pairs.

6. The medical catheter of claim 5 wherein adjacent pairs are staggered at 90°.

7. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the inner liner comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, high density polyethylene, or fluorinated ethylene propylene.

8. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the outer shell comprises nylon or nylon 12.

9. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the catheter comprises at least one region of selectively varied lamination.

10. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the catheter comprises at least one region of selectively varied lamination.

11. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the region of selectively varied lamination is present throughout the length of the catheter.

12. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the inner liner is unfilled or low-loaded with filler, radiopaque material, or colorant.

13. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the outer shell is unfilled or low-loaded with filler, radiopaque material, or colorant.

14. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein the inner liner and outer shell are unfilled or low-loaded with filler, radiopaque material, or colorant.

15. The medical catheter of claim 1 wherein at least one region of selectively varied lamination comprises non-laminated sections and laminated sections, and the inner liner comprises ultra high molecular weight high density polyethylene.

16. The medical catheter of claim 15 wherein the surface of the ultra high molecular weight high density polyethylene inner liner within the laminated sections has been modified with a laser.

17. A medical catheter adapted for use within a body vessel, the medical catheter comprising:

a tubular catheter shaft comprising an inner liner surrounded by an outer shell, the shaft having a distal end that fits within the body vessel;

wherein the catheter shaft comprises at least one region having a thermoplastic bond layer between the inner liner and the outer shell, the bond layer comprising one or more areas of reduced bonding or no bonding at all between the inner liner and the outer shell; and

wherein the one or more areas of reduced bonding or no bonding at all comprise a thermal bond inhibiting ink or a thermal bond inhibiting wax.