Catheter assemblies with flexible radiopaque marker

Abstract

A catheter assembly comprising a shaft and at least one flexible radiopaque marker affixed with the shaft. Flexibility of radiopaque marker is achieved by using a segmented band of radiopaque material or a coiled band formed by winding a wire or hollow tube filled with radiopaque material. The flexible radiopaque marker may be affixed with the shaft by an adhesive, by swaging, by crimping, by soldering, or by spring-action tension fit against the shaft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter assembly comprising: 
 at least one flexible radiopaque marker for visualizing a portion of the catheter assembly under a fluoroscope.    
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque metal.  
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker comprises a radiopaque material selected from the group consisting of: gold, platinum, iridium, tungsten, nickel, tantalum, iron, carbon, manganese, cobalt and alloys thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker comprises a polymeric material and a radiopaque agent.  
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 4 , wherein the radiopaque agent is selected from the group consisting of: barium, bismuth, tungsten, and compounds thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polyether, polyimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and co-polymers thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material has up to approximately 25% by volume of the radiopaque agent incorporated therein.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker comprises a polyether-polyamide block co-polymer with approximately 25% by volume of bismuth trioxide incorporated therein.  
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the flexible radiopaque marker is affixed with the shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker is wrapped around the shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker is crimped to the shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker is swaged to the shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker is affixed with an adhesive.  
     
     
         14 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive is a flexible adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of: silicone-based, urethane-based and cyanoacrylate-based adhesives.  
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the shaft has an inner surface and an outer surface, the flexible radiopaque marker being affixed on the inner surface.  
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 9 , wherein the shaft has an inner surface and an outer surface, the flexible radiopaque marker being affixed on the inner surface.  
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a balloon member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an inflatable portion therebetween.  
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 18 , wherein one flexible radiopaque marker defines a midpoint of the inflatable portion.  
     
     
         20 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 18 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker has a length corresponding to a working length of the balloon member.  
     
     
         21 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 18 , wherein the catheter assembly has two flexible radiopaque markers and the inflatable portion has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein one flexible radiopaque marker is positioned to indicate the proximal end and the other flexible radiopaque marker is positioned to indicate the distal end.  
     
     
         22 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker has a length of between about 1 millimeter to about 50 millimeters.  
     
     
         23 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible radiopaque marker has a length of between about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters.  
     
     
         24 . A catheter assembly having at least one segmented marker band comprising a radiopaque material.  
     
     
         25 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 24 , wherein the segmented band has two ends and comprises a longitudinal slit formed from one end of the segmented band to the other end of the segmented band.  
     
     
         26 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 24 , wherein the segmented band comprises a solid band having a longitudinal axis and at least one notch formed transverse the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         27 . A catheter assembly having at least one marker coil comprising a radiopaque material.  
     
     
         28 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 27 , wherein the coil is formed from a wire of the radiopaque material.  
     
     
         29 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 27 , wherein the coil is formed from a hollow tube filled with the radiopaque material.  
     
     
         30 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 29 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: stainless steel, gold, copper, and silver.  
     
     
         31 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 27 , wherein the marker coil is coated in a polymer layer.  
     
     
         32 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 31 , wherein the polymer layer comprises a low durometer polymer.  
     
     
         33 . The catheter assembly as described in  claim 31 , wherein the polymer layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: a polyurethane and a polyamide-polyether block co-polymer.