A hub defines a lumen with a longitudinal axis along the length of the hub. An outer surface of a distal portion of the hub tapers inwardly toward the longitudinal axis as the distal portion extends distally. A strain relief includes a proximal portion configured to receive the distal portion of the hub. The strain relief defines a lumen that substantially aligns with the hub lumen when the proximal portion receives the hub. The hub and/or strain relief are configured to be fixedly attached to a catheter body such that a catheter body lumen substantially aligns with the hub lumen and the strain relief lumen when the strain relief receives the distal portion of the hub. Outer surfaces of the strain relief and hub define substantially similar distances to the longitudinal axis along an interface between the two outer surfaces when the strain relief receives the hub.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guide extension catheter. The guide extension catheter may include a proximal member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal diameter. The guide extension catheter may additionally include a collar member attached to an extension portion of the proximal member, where the extension portion may be located at the distal end of the proximal member. The extension portion may allow a delivery device to be inserted through the guide extension catheter to extend along a surface of the extension portion and align with a lumen of a distal sheath of the guide extension catheter.

A method for manufacturing a medical introducer includes placing an introducer sheath onto a mandrel, and overmolding an introducer hub onto a proximal end of the introducer sheath. The introducer sheath has one or more score lines formed on an inner surface and the mandrel has a number of surface protrusions so that when the introducer sheath is positioned on the mandrel, each of the surface protrusions contacts one of the score lines formed on the introducer sheath. The surface protrusions on the mandrel prevent plastic material from the introducer hub from contacting the score lines thereby maintaining the score lines during the overmolding.

A method of constructing a catheter assembly having an integrated septum. The method comprising molding a catheter hub having a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal fluid wall defining an injection mold window located between the distal end and the proximal end; seating a catheter tube within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, such that a proximal end of the catheter tube resides within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, and a distal end of the catheter tube extends distally from the distal end of the catheter hub; plugging at least a proximal end of the catheter hub with a mold core shut off pin; and injection molding a septum in at least a portion of the internal fluid passageway between the mold core shut off pin and the proximal end of the catheter tube through the injection mold window.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

The inventive method for manufacturing a medical device having a shuttle mold system mounted in a vertical injection molding machine, the shuttle mold system having a top section and two bottom sections, with the two bottom sections mounted 180 degrees from each other on a rotating table and the top section mounted in a fixed position above the rotating table, and where after molding, the table rotates 180 degrees for removal of parts and inserting fixtures for the next device manufacture cycle.

A catheter is provided that includes a catheter body, a catheter hub, and a securing member disposed in the catheter hub to clamp the catheter between the securing member and the catheter hub. The securing member has an outer peripheral surface making contact with and stretching an inner peripheral surface of the catheter body. The catheter includes a recessed relief portion into which a thickness of the catheter body is inserted, the relief portion being partially provided circumferentially in an inner peripheral surface of the catheter hub.

An apparatus includes an elongate shaft, a dilation balloon, and a fitting member. The elongate shaft includes an inflation lumen, an irrigation lumen, and at least one irrigation opening. The at least one irrigation opening is in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen. The dilation balloon is at the distal portion of the shaft. The dilation balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. The fitting member is at the proximal end of the shaft. The fitting member includes an inflation fluid port, an irrigation fluid port, and a blocking structure. The inflation fluid port is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. The irrigation fluid port is in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen. The blocking structure is adjacent to the irrigation fluid port and defines a gap around the irrigation fluid port.

The catheter of the present invention includes a tubular member having a reinforced portion and an unreinforced portion having a tapered portion; and a handle connected to a proximal end portion of the tubular member; wherein the handle has a first lumen and a second lumen positioned proximally beyond the first lumen, the unreinforced portion is fixed to the first lumen with a proximal end of the unreinforced portion positioned at the proximal end of the first lumen, and the catheter satisfies formulae (1) to (3):

a<b  (1)

a<c  (2)

b≥c  (3), where a is an inner diameter at a position apart by 1 mm distally from a proximal end of the reinforced portion, b is an inner diameter at the proximal end of the unreinforced portion, and c is an inner diameter at the distal end of the second lumen of the handle.

Intraluminal imaging devices and methods of assembling the intraluminal imaging devices are provided. For example, an intraluminal imaging device can include a flexible elongate catheter body and a rigid imaging assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongate catheter body. A distal portion of the inner member is positioned within a lumen of the imaging assembly, and the flexible elongate member comprises a strain relief layer positioned around the inner member. A distal portion of the strain relief layer is positioned radially between the inner member and the imaging assembly, and a proximal end of the strain relief layer is positioned distally of a proximal end of the inner member, forming a transition region. The transition region can prevent bending or kinking of the flexible elongate catheter body when the intraluminal imaging device is navigating tortuous regions of the patient's anatomy.