The advantages of PTFE-lined catheters are numerous. Its high torque control and stiffness give it excellent "push-ability", while the PTFE liner gives it excellent lubricity. The substructure helps the catheter resist kinking and allows for excellent pressure resistance. As with many of our products, it is easily customizable and available in a variety of durometers.

Reinforced PTFE-lined catheters are available with flat or round wire braid, and/or coiled configurations. Flat wire is generally used for thin walled applications where "anti-kink" performance is critical. Coiled shafts are more flexible and kink resistant, but they do not have the same torque capabilities as a braided shaft.

Of course, if you have any questions, please contact your TFX Medical OEM representative. They'll be happy to answer any questions or put you in touch with one of our highly skilled design engineers.

Applications

• Diagnostic Catheters
• Guiding Catheters
• Suction Catheters
• TMR
• Stent Delivery Systems
• AAA Stent Delivery Systems
• Electrophysiology Catheters
• Neuroradiology Catheters

Configurations

• Coiled reinforced tubing
• Braided proximal, coiled distal
• Braided multiple lumen
• Single or multiple durometer segments

Return to top

Dimensions
Minimum wall thickness:

• 0.005" (0.127mm) - braided
• 0.006" (0.152mm) - coiled

Braid wire diameters (stainless steel)

• Round wire:
  • 0.001" (0.025mm)
  • 0.0015" (0.038mm)
  • 0.002" (0.051mm)
  • 0.0025" (0.064mm)
  • 0.003" (0.076mm)
• Flat wire:
  • 0.0007" x 0.003" (0.018mm x 0.076mm)
  • 0.0007" x 0.005" (0.018mm x 0.127mm)
  • 0.001" x 0.003" (0.025mm x 0.076mm)
  • 0.0005" x 0.0025" (0.013mm x 0.064mm)

Materials

• Liner: PTFE, FEP
• Jacket: Nylon, PEBA, polyurethane, polyethylene, customer specified engineering polymers

Return to top

Fillers

• Barium sulfate (BaSO₄)
• Bismuth trioxide (Bi₂O₃)
• Bismuth subcarbonate (Bi₂Co₃)
• Tungsten (W)

Coils and configurations

• Stainless steel
• Nitinol
• Platinum
• Variable pitch
• Flat or round wire
• Embedded radiopaque marker bands

Braid wire density
Braid wire density is described as picks per inch (PPI), which is the number of wire crossovers per inch of shaft. Depending upon wire and tube sizes, TFX Medical OEM can supply up to 250 PPI.