Importance

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Abstract

A catheter (10, 38, 40, 50, 80, 90) having both a flexible (30) and a rigid reinforcement section (36). The catheter body (12) is comprised of an elastomeric material, such as silicone, having a resilient coil or spring member (30) within a fluid delivery lumen (20) along the proximal portion (14) thereof. The catheter is provided with a more rigid malleable reinforcement member (36) at the distal portion (16) thereof, also extending within the fluid delivery lumen (20) and positioned proximal the coil member (30) within the fluid delivery lumen (20). The rigid reinforced distal portion (16) of the catheter body helps the surgeon to hold the tip of the catheter more firmly, and makes insertion of the catheter tip into the body vessel easier. The more flexible support portion (30) at the proximal portion (14) of the elastomeric catheter body reinforces the catheter to prevent kinking, yet allows flexibility to facilitate the surgeon to move the proximal portion (14) of the catheter out of the surgical site. The catheter body may be provided with a balloon (56) and a hinge portion (42), such as defined by an annular detent (54), to allow the catheter tip to self-align within the body vessel when the balloon is inflated. Both the flexible (30) and rigid (36) reinforcement sections are tubular to facilitate fluid delivery therethrough within through the lumen (20) through which the reinforcement members (30 and 36) reside.

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First Claim