System and method for manufacturing variable stiffness catheters
US10426917B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
19References
11Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/7542
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for manufacturing a catheter includes at least first and second controllable rate material feeders that feed at least first and second materials into a temperature-controlled mixer to form a compound material that varies in flexibility and/or strength with the respective first and second materials and material feed rates. An extruder extrudes the compound material onto a rotating and translating mandrel to thereby form a variable stiffness profile along a length of the catheter that depends on respective rates of rotation and translation of the mandrel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.