A medical shaft includes a shaft including at least one lumen extending in a longitudinal direction; a core member disposed in the lumen, the core member extending along the longitudinal direction; and a tubular member disposed on an outer side of the core member in a same lumen as a lumen in which the core member is disposed, the tubular member having a length, in the longitudinal direction, which is less than a length of the core member, wherein in the lumen, an area of a cross-section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is disposed is greater than an area of a cross section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is not disposed.

A method includes mixing a liquid carrier and a powder formulation including an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) powder to form a nitric oxide generating solution; and within a predetermined time of mixing, introducing the nitric oxide generating solution into an inflatable and nitric oxide permeable balloon of a urinary catheter that is inserted in a patient.

A method includes mixing a liquid carrier and a powder formulation including an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) powder to form a nitric oxide generating solution; and within a predetermined time of mixing, introducing the nitric oxide generating solution into an inflatable and nitric oxide permeable balloon of a urinary catheter that is inserted in a patient.

The present teachings provide a catheter shaft design and configuration for use in the delivering and deploying a medical device, and aspiration removal of occlusion. Specifically, one aspect of the present teachings provides a catheter shaft design having a four-layer construction, an ultra-thin inner layer, a first coil middle layer, and a second braid middle layer, and an outer jacket layer. The first coil middle layer of the catheter shaft is made of a flat wire with width to thickness ratio of at least 2:1. The outer jacket layer of the catheter shaft is made of three different material with a soft durometer forming the distal portion of the outer jacket, a medium durometer material forming the middle/transitional portion of the outer jacket, and a stronger durometer material forming the proximal portion of the outer jacket.

The present teachings provide a catheter shaft design and configuration for use in the delivering and deploying a medical device, and aspiration removal of occlusion. Specifically, one aspect of the present teachings provides a catheter shaft design having a four-layer construction, an ultra-thin inner layer, a first coil middle layer, and a second braid middle layer, and an outer jacket layer. The first coil middle layer of the catheter shaft is made of a flat wire with width to thickness ratio of at least 2:1. The outer jacket layer of the catheter shaft is made of three different material with a soft durometer forming the distal portion of the outer jacket, a medium durometer material forming the middle/transitional portion of the outer jacket, and a stronger durometer material forming the proximal portion of the outer jacket.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes extruding an inner polymeric layer having a main lumen and two or more side lumens spaced about the main lumen; forming an outer polymeric layer about the inner polymeric layer; and inserting at least one elongate member, such as a wire, through each side lumen of the inner polymeric layer. The side lumens are less than about ⅕ the size of the main lumen. The method may further include the step of forming a braided layer between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. In an alternate embodiment, the method includes co-extruding an inner polymeric layer and a multi-lumen layer, the multi-lumen layer having two or more side lumens; forming an outer polymeric layer about the multi-lumen layer; and inserting at least one elongate member through each side lumen. Catheter assemblies made according to the described methods are also disclosed.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes extruding an inner polymeric layer having a main lumen and two or more side lumens spaced about the main lumen; forming an outer polymeric layer about the inner polymeric layer; and inserting at least one elongate member, such as a wire, through each side lumen of the inner polymeric layer. The side lumens are less than about ⅕ the size of the main lumen. The method may further include the step of forming a braided layer between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. In an alternate embodiment, the method includes co-extruding an inner polymeric layer and a multi-lumen layer, the multi-lumen layer having two or more side lumens; forming an outer polymeric layer about the multi-lumen layer; and inserting at least one elongate member through each side lumen. Catheter assemblies made according to the described methods are also disclosed.

A microcatheter comprising an inner layer, a strike layer and an outer layer and a braided skeleton located between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the inner layer is made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has a thickness of 0.0015 inch or less, wherein the strike layer includes a polyether block amide and has a thickness of 0.001 inch or less, and wherein a distal portion of said outer layer is made of polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane having a shore of 90A or below.

A polymeric material includes a polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer. The polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer includes soft segments, hard segments, and end groups. The soft segments include a polyisobutylene diol residue. The hard segments include a diisocyanate residue. The end groups are bonded by urea bonds to a portion of the diisocyanate residue. The end groups include a residue of a mono-functional amine.

A polymeric material includes a polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer. The polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer includes soft segments, hard segments, and end groups. The soft segments include a polyisobutylene diol residue. The hard segments include a diisocyanate residue. The end groups are bonded by urea bonds to a portion of the diisocyanate residue. The end groups include a residue of a mono-functional amine.