Importance

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Abstract

A catheter comprises a flexible, plastic catheter shaft which carries an embedded fibrous, tubular reinforcement member typically of the braided type. The catheter shaft defines a first section which comprises a first plastic material and a second section abutting the first section which comprises a second plastic material having different physical properties from the first plastic material. The tubular reinforcement member comprises integral fibers that extend between, and are embedded in, the plastic of the first and second sections of the catheter shaft. Thus, the two different sections of the catheter shaft can have different physical properties while being reliably and permanently secured together not only by any bond present between the plastic portions but also because of the integral fibers extending between the two portions. Such a catheter may be made by threading preformed plastic catheter sections about the fibrous tubular reinforcement member and fusing.

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First Claim