Importance

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Abstract

A catheter includes an elongated tube having a size and shape adapted to be inserted into the cardiovascular system that is composed of a material having a modulus of elasticity providing stiffness to enhance catheter torque control, and a sheath coaxially disposed over and bonded to the tube that is composed of a biocompatible material having a modulus of elasticity providing softness to reduce catheter trauma to the cardiovascular system. An outer portion of the tube defines a plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs protruding radially outward at circumferentially spaced-apart locations, each one of the ribs having a cross sectional area that increases radially inward, for engaging the sheath circumferentially, for defining an outer surface of the tube that generally faces radially outward toward the sheath to thereby facilitate a closely-confronting relationship between the sheath and tube over substantially the entire outer surface, and for extending the outer surface over an enlarged area to thereby facilitate a better bond of the sheath to the tube.

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First Claim