Method of soft tip forming
US5811043A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/0081
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention comprises a catheter method of manufacture. The method includes the provision of a subassembly of a lubricious liner and reinforcement. Over the subassembly, a shaft tube, transition tube, and soft tip tube are placed in an abutting relationship to each other, forming an assembly. A first tube of heat shrink is advanced over the assembly, heat is applied to fuse the assembly, and the first heat shrink is removed. Subsequently, the soft tip of the catheter is shaped using a second tube of heat shrink, which is placed over the distal end of the assembly. Heat is applied to the second heat shrink to cause the tip material to flow and to draw the tip material over the distal end of the lubricious liner. The second heat shrink is removed, completing the catheter manufacture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.