Intravascular catheter comprising a reinforcing micro-tape

1. A catheter, comprising:

a longitudinally pre-oriented tubular substrate,

a reinforcing tape surrounding and in contact with the substrate, the reinforcing tape being wound over the substrate, and

a tubular superstrate surrounding the reinforcing tape, the tubular superstrate forcing the reinforcing tape against the substrate and maintaining the reinforcing tape to be wound over the substrate,

wherein the reinforcing tape consists of a micro-tape having a width less than 0.1 mm and having a filament layer consisting of filaments, the filament layer having a cross sectional aspect ratio (width/height) of from 2 to 20, wherein the filaments are selected from the group consisting of aramid, high modulus polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, and polyester-polyarylate,

wherein the micro-tape includes only flat strands,

wherein the micro-tape includes a fiber content of at least 77 wt %, and

wherein the filaments are fixed by a cured or solidified resin or wax, comprising from 2 to 23 wt % of the micro-tape.

2. The catheter of claim 1 ,

wherein the catheter is an intravascular catheter.

3. The catheter of claim 2 ,

wherein the micro-tape is wound over the substrate as a braid.

4. The catheter of claim 2 ,

wherein the micro-tape is spirally wound over the substrate.

5. The catheter of claim 1 ,

wherein the micro-tape is wound over the substrate as a braid.

6. The catheter of claim 1 ,

wherein the micro-tape is spirally wound over the substrate.