Catheters which utilize a flexible tube that has been modified at one end or both ends. Such modifications involve modifying a tube end to increase rigidity and strength (while maintaining some flexibility), or involve special placement of an intraluminal cord within the tube. One such catheter has a tube (20) with a cord (26) running therethrough wherein a portion of the tube's proximal end has been reinforced (30), preferably, in such a manner that the reinforced portion of the tube remains fl...

The present invention relates to catheters for use with subcutaneous access ports for continuous or intermittent infusion therapy. These catheters utilize a pretensioned, helical coil which is incorporated into a flexible cannulated portion. This feature allows the flexible cannula to be bent without kinking under normal use. This flexibility provides a great deal of comfort to the patent. These catheters also incorporate a puncture needle which is positioned axially down the length of the cathe...

A process for manufacturing a catheter for insertion into a body cavity, for instance a catheter used for insertion into the urethra. The catheter has a tip portion provided with one or several drainage or flushing openings adjacent to the free end which is to be inserted into the body cavity. The outside of the catheter is provided with a coating. The process includes injection-molding a separate tip portion of the catheter. The tip portion includes an inner lumen and the drainage/flushing open...

A catheter is provided whose distal end can be introduced through an artery in the arm into the entrance of the left coronary artery. The catheter includes a catheter body having an outer diameter of at most 2.7 mm over its entire length and has a proximal segment straight under a free state and a distal segment having a curved shape under a free state. The distal segment includes a first straight portion contiguous to the proximal segment through a first curved portion, a second straight portio...

A catheter (1, 18) is essentially rigid in cross-section in the peripheral region, and has at least two lumina (3, 4, 19, 20), which are mutually separated by a wall (2, 21) which can be expanded and/or deformed in the transverse plane. The flow cross-sections of the lumina change owing to the deformation of the separating wall (2, 21), depending on the prevailing differential pressure. If drugs are introduced through the lumina one after another, then there is used, in the lumen, an over pressu...

Catheter to be used in the skull area consisting of an elongated elastic tube having a closed distal end and having a connecting part arranged at the rear end. The tube comprises an opening at a predetermined distance from said distal end, the dimensions of said opening being sufficient for inserting an elongated manipulating needle into the tube such that the distal point of said needle contacts the closed distal top of the catheter. Furthermore the tube may comprise a closure element which is ...

An improved catheter for insertion into the right coronary artery of a cardiovascular system including an elongated, preshaped tubular member comprising a first straight portion extending from the proximal end of the catheter and a distal end portion extending from the straight portion and bent in a unique manner to rest along the inner wall of said artery and to enable the distal end to be precisely located relative to the artery.

A medical tube has at least one wire running from the proximal end to the vicinity of the distal end thereof, which wire is connected to the tube adjacent the distal end so as to allow the distal tip to be deflected upon movement of the wire. The tube has gaps therein on one side of its longitudinal axis so as to form a predetermined region of weakness, whereby upon tension being applied to the wire the distal end of the tube bends in the direction of the predetermined region of weakness. The me...

A catheter to be used as an injection tube includes a flexible sheath to be inserted into a celom through an insertion channel of an endoscope for injecting a medicinal solution or the like into the celom through the sheath. The sheath includes a distal end portion which has a distal aperture smaller than the inside diameter of the sheath, a frontmost portion rounded with a radius of curvature larger than the thickness of the wall of the sheath, and at least one slit extending to the distal aper...

The catheter of the present invention comprises a body portion, a distal portion and an internal lumen and at least the above body portion includes a super-elastic metallic tube. This catheter has a high efficiency of transmitting the pushing force given at its proximal end (pushability) and a high torque transmission efficiency. Furthermore, since the body portion of the catheter includes a super-elastic metallic tube, the wall thickness of the body portion can be made sufficiently thin and a c...