Medical device delivery catheter and medical device delivery system using same
View Patent ↗A medical device delivery catheter includes an elongate tubular body including proximal, intermediate, and distal longitudinal segments. The proximal segment extends between a proximal end of the body and a first transition between the proximal segment and the intermediate segment, has a first outer diameter, and includes at least one flexibility increasing cut through a wall of the body. The intermediate segment extends between the first transition and a second transition between the intermediate segment and the distal segment, has a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, and defines a medical device support region. The distal segment has an initial outer diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter and terminates in a distally tapered region. The body is free of joints and has a uniform tensile strength across the proximal, intermediate, and distal segments and the transitions.
1. A medical device delivery catheter, comprising:
a one-piece elongate tubular body including a proximal longitudinal segment, an intermediate longitudinal segment, and a distal longitudinal segment;
wherein the proximal longitudinal segment extends between a proximal end of the elongate tubular body and a first transition between the proximal longitudinal segment and the intermediate longitudinal segment, has a first outer diameter, and includes at least one flexibility increasing cut through a wall of the elongate tubular body;
wherein the intermediate longitudinal segment extends between the first transition and a second transition between the intermediate longitudinal segment and the distal longitudinal segment, has a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, and defines a medical device support region;
wherein the distal longitudinal segment has an initial outer diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter and terminates in a distally tapered region;
wherein the elongate tubular body is free of joints and has a uniform tensile strength per unit area across the proximal, intermediate, and distal longitudinal segments and the first and second transitions.
2. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexibility increasing cut includes a plurality of discontinuous cuts.
3. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexibility increasing cut includes a single continuous spiral cut.
4. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 1 , further including a support material layer extending over the proximal longitudinal segment.
5. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 4 , wherein the support material layer includes a nylon material.
6. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 4 , wherein the support material layer has a distally expanding outer diameter.
7. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 1 , wherein the proximal longitudinal segment extends a majority of a length of the elongate tubular body.
8. The medical device delivery catheter of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular body includes a polymer.
9. A medical device delivery system, comprising:
a medical device delivery catheter having a one-piece elongate tubular body including a proximal longitudinal segment, an intermediate longitudinal segment, and a distal longitudinal segment, wherein the proximal longitudinal segment extends between a proximal end of the elongate tubular body and a first transition between the proximal longitudinal segment and the intermediate longitudinal segment, has a first outer diameter, and includes at least one flexibility increasing cut through a wall of the elongate tubular body, wherein the intermediate longitudinal segment extends between the first transition and a second transition between the intermediate longitudinal segment and the distal longitudinal segment, has a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, and defines a medical device support region, wherein the distal longitudinal segment has an initial outer diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter and terminates in a distally tapered region, wherein the elongate tubular body is free of joints and has a uniform tensile strength per unit area across the proximal, intermediate, and distal longitudinal segments and the first and second transitions;
a medical device positioned over the elongate tubular body at the medical device support region; and
an elongate tubular sheath slidably received over the elongate tubular body;
wherein one of the elongate tubular sheath and the elongate tubular body is movable relative to another of the elongate tubular sheath and the elongate tubular body between a delivery configuration in which the elongate tubular sheath restricts radial expansion of the medical device and a deployment configuration in which the medical device is not restricted from radial expansion by the elongate tubular sheath.
10. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one flexibility increasing cut includes a plurality of discontinuous cuts.
11. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one flexibility increasing cut includes a single continuous spiral cut.
12. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , further including a support material layer extending over the proximal longitudinal segment.
13. The medical device delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the support material layer includes a nylon material.
14. The medical device delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the support material layer has a distally expanding outer diameter.
15. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the proximal longitudinal segment extends a majority of a length of the elongate tubular body.
16. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the elongate tubular body includes a polymer.
17. The medical device delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the medical device is a stent.
18. The medical device delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the stent is self-expandable in a radial direction.
19. The medical device delivery system of claim 1 wherein the flexibility increasing cut has a depth that is less than a thickness of the wall.
20. A medical device delivery catheter, comprising: a one-piece elongate tubular body including a proximal longitudinal segment, an intermediate longitudinal segment, and a distal longitudinal segment; wherein the proximal longitudinal segment extends between a proximal end of the elongate tubular body and a first transition between the proximal longitudinal segment and the intermediate longitudinal segment, has a first outer diameter, and includes at least one flexibility increasing cut through a wall of the elongate tubular body; wherein the intermediate longitudinal segment extends between the first transition and a second transition between the intermediate longitudinal segment and the distal longitudinal segment, has a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, and defines a medical device support region; and wherein the distal longitudinal segment has an initial outer diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter and terminates in a distally tapered region, wherein the elongate tubular body is free of joints and has a uniform tensile strength per unit area across the proximal, intermediate, and distal longitudinal segments and the first and second transitions.