Methods of forming catheters with soft distal tips
First Claim
1. A method of forming a catheter having an elongate shaft and a distal tip, the catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the distal tip having a distal end and a proximal end, the method comprising:
- flaring a portion of the distal tip proximate the proximal end to form a flared proximal end;
positioning the distal tip such that the flared proximal end of the distal tip overlaps the distal end of the outer layer; and
applying heat and pressure to melt and flow together the outer layer proximate the distal end and the overlapped portion of the flared proximal end of the distal tip, thereby forming a joint between the catheter shaft and the distal tip.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter can be formed from an elongate shaft and a distal tip. The catheter can be formed by flaring a proximal end of the distal tip to form a flared proximal end and positioning the distal tip such that the flared proximal end of the distal tip overlaps a distal end of the outer layer. Heat and pressure are applied to melt and flow together a portion of the outer layer proximate the distal end of the shaft and the overlapped portion of the flared proximal end of the distal tip, thereby forming a joint between the elongate shaft and the distal tip.
72 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of forming a catheter having an elongate shaft and a distal tip, the catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the distal tip having a distal end and a proximal end, the method comprising:
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flaring a portion of the distal tip proximate the proximal end to form a flared proximal end; positioning the distal tip such that the flared proximal end of the distal tip overlaps the distal end of the outer layer; and applying heat and pressure to melt and flow together the outer layer proximate the distal end and the overlapped portion of the flared proximal end of the distal tip, thereby forming a joint between the catheter shaft and the distal tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of forming a catheter comprising an elongate shaft and a distal tip, the catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer extending distally beyond the distal end of the outer layer, the distal tip having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal tip comprising a soft material, the method comprising:
- providing a distal segment having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal segment formed of the same soft material as the distal tip;
securing the distal segment over the distal end of the inner layer such that the proximal end of the distal segment abuts the distal end of the outer layer; flaring the proximal end of the distal tip to form a flared proximal end; positioning the distal tip such that the flared proximal end of the distal tip overlaps the distal end of the distal segment; and applying heat and pressure to melt and flow together the distal segment and the overlapped portion of the flared proximal end of the distal tip, thereby forming a joint between the catheter shaft and the distal tip. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- providing a distal segment having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal segment formed of the same soft material as the distal tip;
Specification