Patent attributes
A flexible, elongated catheter tube having distal and proximal ends and a laser cut section there between. The laser cut section makes up a majority of the catheter length and is cut in a continuous helical pattern forming interlocking teeth which can be sinusoidal, triangular, square or like shapes, preferably sinusoidal. The interior of the tube has a polymeric layer which forms the internal lumen of the catheter. The exterior of the tube has a polymer coating. A short portion of the distal end is uncut and is followed by a narrower terminal section which can be tapered for better blockage penetration. The interlocking teeth disengage and reengage in a fish-scale manner without undergoing plastic deformation of the metal tube and without substantial polymer separation from the tube exterior.
