Medical device incorporating a polymer blend
View Patent ↗A catheter including a catheter shaft formed from a polymer blend and/or a braid. The polymer blend may include polyoxymethylene added in the dispersion phase to a polymer blend. The catheter braid can be formed from at least two continuous wires that are woven together. The catheter braid can include a proximal braid section and a distal braid section. Each of the continuous wires has a proximal diameter corresponding to the proximal braid section and a distal diameter corresponding to the distal braid section. The distal diameter of each wire can be less than the proximal diameter of that wire. A catheter braid so formed can be included in a catheter.
1. A catheter shaft, comprising:
an elongate shaft member having a proximal end region and a distal end region;
wherein the catheter shaft includes a polymer blend having polyoxymethylene dispersed in a blend of polybutylene terephthalate and ether or ester based copolymer; and
a catheter braid formed from at least two continuous wires woven together and disposed on the catheter shaft, the catheter braid comprising:
a proximal braid section in which each of the continuous wires has a proximal cross-sectional area; and
a distal braid section in which each of the continuous wires has a distal cross-sectional area;
wherein for each continuous wire, the distal cross-sectional area of said continuous wire is less than the proximal cross-sectional area of said continuous wire.
2. The catheter shaft of claim 1 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 40% by volume of polyoxymethylene.
3. The catheter shaft of claim 2 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 90% by volume polybutylene terephthalate.
4. The catheter shaft of claim 2 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 90% by volume ether or ester based copolymer.
5. A catheter shaft, comprising:
an elongate shaft member having a proximal end region and a distal end region;
wherein the catheter shaft includes a polymer blend having polyoxymethylene dispersed in a blend of polybutylene terephthalate and polyether-ester;
wherein the shaft member includes a reinforcing braid, the braid having a proximal portion and a distal portion different from the proximal portion.
6. The catheter shaft of claim 5 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 40% by volume of polyoxymethylene.
7. The catheter shaft of claim 5 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 90% by volume polybutylene terephthalate.
8. The catheter shaft of claim 5 , wherein the polymer blend includes about 5% to about 90% by volume polyether-ester.
9. The catheter shaft of claim 5 , wherein the braid is formed from at least two continuous wires woven together and disposed along the shaft member.
10. The catheter shaft of claim 9 , wherein along the proximal portion of the reinforcement layer each of the continuous wires has a proximal cross-sectional area, wherein along the distal portion of the reinforcement layer each of the continuous wires has a distal cross-sectional area, and wherein for each continuous wire, the distal cross-sectional area of the continuous wire is less than the proximal cross-sectional area of the continuous wire.