Catheter shaft and associated devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Catheter shafts and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A representative catheter in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes a generally tubular outer structure and an inner structure surrounded by the outer structure. The inner structure surrounds a catheter lumen. The inner structure includes over-lapping edges such that, when the catheter is bent along its longitudinal axis, the over-lapping edges move relative to one another.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A catheter, comprising:
 a strip of material wound about a longitudinal axis to define a catheter lumen, wherein the strip of material includes edges that overlap in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the overlapping edges extend entirely circumferentially about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the over-lapping edges are not adhered together.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material has a first region and a second region, wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by a first distance in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the first region, wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by a second distance in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the second region, and wherein the first distance is different than the second distance. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by an overlap distance, and wherein the overlap distance varies along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material is wound about the longitudinal axis to have a pitch, wherein the pitch varies along the longitudinal axis such that the strip of material defines a first region having a first stiffness and a second region having a second stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is different than the second stiffness. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the catheter further comprises a tubular structure surrounding the strip of material. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 5  wherein the strip of material has an inner surface defining the catheter lumen and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the tubular structure is bonded to only a portion of the outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 5  wherein the tubular structure is an elongated polymer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material is formed from a polymer tube that has been cut in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the polymer tube. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material is formed from a polymer tube that has been cut in a helical direction about a longitduinal axis of the polymer tube. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material has an inner surface defining the catheter lumen and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the outer surface is etched, and wherein the inner surface is not etched. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the strip of material is formed from a PTFE tube. 
     
     
         12 . A catheter, comprising:
 a strip of material wound about a longitudinal axis, wherein the strip of material has freely sliding interfaces with itself in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the freely sliding interfaces extend entirely circumferentially about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the strip of material has a first region and a second region, wherein the strip of material has edges that overlap at the freely sliding interfaces, wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by a first distance in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the first region, wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by a second distance in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the second region, and wherein the first distance is different than the second distance. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the strip of material has edges that overlap at the freely sliding interfaces, wherein adjacent ones of the edges overlap by an overlap distance at the freely sliding interfaces, and wherein the overlap distance varies along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the strip of material is wound about the longitudinal axis to have a pitch, wherein the pitch varies along the longitudinal axis such that the strip of material defines a first region having a first stiffness and a second region having a second stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is different than the second stiffness. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the catheter further comprises a tubular structure surrounding the strip of material, wherein the strip of material has an inner surface defining a catheter lumen and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the tubular structure is bonded to only a portion of the outer surface. 
     
     
         17 . A catheter, comprising
 a strip of material wound about a longitudinal axis, wherein the strip of material has inner portions and outer portions that overlap in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the inner portions and the outer portions overlap entirely circumferentially about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the inner portions are configured to slide tangentially relative to the outer portions during bending of the catheter.   
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 17  wherein the strip of material has a first region and a second region, wherein adjacent ones of the of the inner portions and the outer portions overlap by a first distance in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the first region, wherein adjacent ones of the inner portions and the outer portions overlap by a second distance in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis in the second region, and wherein the first distance is different than the second distance. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 17  wherein adjacent ones of the inner portions and the outer portions overlap by an overlap distance, and wherein the overlap distance varies along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 17  wherein the strip of material is wound about the longitudinal axis to have a pitch, and wherein the pitch varies along the longitudinal axis such that the strip of material defines a first region having a first stiffness and a second region having a second stiffness, wherein the first stiffness is different than the second stiffness.