Medical devices with tubular reinforcement

Abstract

A catheter includes: a tubular structure having a longitudinal axis; wherein the tubular structure comprises first and second rings arranged in series along the longitudinal axis, the first and second rings being respective closed-loops, wherein the first ring lies within a first plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; wherein the tubular structure comprises a first connecting member having a first end, a second end, and a member body; and a second connecting member comprises a first end, a second end, and a member body; and wherein the second end of the first connecting member and the first end of the second connecting member are connected to the first ring, and disposed across from each other, and wherein the second end of the second connective member is connected to the second ring, and wherein the respective member bodies are configured to rotate and/or bent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 a tubular structure having a distal end, a proximal end, and a body extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the tubular structure having a longitudinal axis;   wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of ring elements arranged in series along the longitudinal axis, the ring elements being respective closed-loops, wherein the ring elements comprise a first ring element and a second ring element, wherein the first ring element lies within a first plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, and wherein the second ring element lies within a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure;   wherein the tubular structure further comprises connecting members, the connecting members comprising a first connecting member, connected between the first ring element and the second ring element, wherein the first connecting member comprises a first end, a second end, and a member body between the first end and the second end of the first connecting member; and   wherein a second connecting member comprises a first end, a second end, and a member body between the first end and second end of the second connecting member; and   wherein the second end of the first connecting member and the first end of the second connecting member are connected to the first ring element, and disposed across from each other, and wherein the second end of the second connecting member is connected to the second ring element, and wherein the member body of the second connective member is configured to rotate and/or bent relative to the first ring element and the second ring element in response to a bending and/or axial-loading of the tubular structure.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a lumen having a cross-sectional shape when the catheter is in a relaxed state, and wherein the tubular structure is configured to maintain the cross-sectional shape of the lumen during bending of the catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is configured to provide axial stiffness and/or torsional stiffness for the catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end of the first connecting member define a line that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first plane and the second plane remain substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the tubular structure is being bent and/or being axially-loaded. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first ring element has a uniform cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first ring element has different cross-sectional dimensions along a length of the first ring element. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second connecting member has a curvilinear configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the first connecting member lies in a third plane that is parallel to the first plane when the tubular structure is in a relaxed state. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first connecting member has a curvilinear configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting members also comprise a third connecting member, and wherein the first, second and third connecting members are located between the first ring element and the second ring element. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting members are connected to a same location at the first ring element. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements and the connecting members are integrally formed together. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements and the connecting members are parts of a cut tube. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first ring element and a portion of the first connecting member are separated from each other to define a first space, and wherein the catheter further comprises a filler located in the space. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the portion of the first connecting member is separated from the second ring to define a second space, wherein the first space and the second space has a same width. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer disposed on an outer surface or an inner surface of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the layer comprises a material that extends into a spacing to form a filler between a portion of the first ring element and a portion of the first connecting member. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the tubular structure and the layer are configured to cooperate with each other by sharing tensile load and/or bending load.