US Patent 7968038 Large diameter delivery catheter/sheath

A large diameter, flexible, kink-resistant, delivery catheter or sheath for percutaneous delivery of a contained and implantable medical device in the vasculature of a patient. The delivery catheter or sheath includes a reinforcement such as a flat wire coil with uniform spacing between the turns, which is compression fitted about an inner, lubricous PTFE tube. The delivery catheter or sheath further includes an outer tube of a heat formable polyamide material which is heat formed and compressed through the spaces between the turns of the wire coil to mechanically connect to a roughened outer surface of the inner tube. A polymeric radiopaque marker tube may be positioned at the distal end of the coil and between the inner and outer tubes for radiographic visualization. A side port may also be positioned thereat for the infusion of contrast media.