Catheter tip assembly
First Claim
1. A method for making a catheter tip assembly comprising:
- providing a catheter tip having an inner diameter defining a lumen and a greatest outer diameter, said catheter tip having a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end;
providing a first tubular body having a longitudinal axis, and an inner diameter slightly greater than said greatest outer diameter of said catheter tip;
placing a second tubular body coaxially within said first tubular body, said second tubular body having an inner diameter defining a lumen and an outer diameter;
positioning said second tubular body within said first tubular body so that said second tubular body is at least approximately centered within said first tubular body;
blow molding a portion of said second tubular body until a greatest outer diameter of said blow-molded portion of said second tubular body is approximately equal to said inner diameter of said first tubular body;
removing said second tubular body from said first tubular body;
severing said second tubular body laterally to said longitudinal axis along said blow-molded portion, thereby forming a narrow elongate portion and a blow-molded wide distal end having a distal edge;
applying an adhesive to said tapered proximal end of said catheter tip; and
placing said catheter tip into said lumen of said wide distal end of said second tubular body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter tip assembly (50) is provided with a catheter tip (56) and an inner catheter (54). The catheter tip (56) has a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end. The inner catheter (54) includes a narrow proximal portion, a narrow elongate center portion (66), and a wide distal end (68). The catheter tip (56) is disposed within the wide distal end (68) of the inner catheter (54). One advantage of the catheter tip assembly is that no proximal-facing edge is formed at the transition between the narrow elongate center portion of the inner catheter and the catheter tip, which may help reduce the risk of the catheter tip snagging on a stent during use.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for making a catheter tip assembly comprising:
-
providing a catheter tip having an inner diameter defining a lumen and a greatest outer diameter, said catheter tip having a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end; providing a first tubular body having a longitudinal axis, and an inner diameter slightly greater than said greatest outer diameter of said catheter tip; placing a second tubular body coaxially within said first tubular body, said second tubular body having an inner diameter defining a lumen and an outer diameter; positioning said second tubular body within said first tubular body so that said second tubular body is at least approximately centered within said first tubular body; blow molding a portion of said second tubular body until a greatest outer diameter of said blow-molded portion of said second tubular body is approximately equal to said inner diameter of said first tubular body; removing said second tubular body from said first tubular body; severing said second tubular body laterally to said longitudinal axis along said blow-molded portion, thereby forming a narrow elongate portion and a blow-molded wide distal end having a distal edge; applying an adhesive to said tapered proximal end of said catheter tip; and placing said catheter tip into said lumen of said wide distal end of said second tubular body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for making a catheter tip assembly comprising:
-
providing a catheter tip having an inner diameter defining a lumen and a greatest outer diameter, said catheter tip having a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end; providing a first tubular body having a longitudinal axis, and an inner diameter slightly greater than said greatest outer diameter of said catheter tip; compressing a stent having a distal end and a proximal end, said stent being shorter than said first tubular body; placing said compressed stent coaxially within said first tubular body; placing a second tubular body comprised of a blow-moldable material coaxially within said stent, said second tubular body being longer than said stent; positioning said second tubular body and said compressed stent within said first tubular body so that said second tubular body is at least approximately centered within said first tubular body; blow molding a first portion of said second tubular body that is distal to said stent until a greatest outer diameter of said blow-molded first portion of said second tubular body is at least approximately equal to said inner diameter of said first tubular body; blow molding a second portion of said second tubular body that is proximal to said stent until a greatest outer diameter of said blow-molded second portion of said second tubular body is at least approximately equal to said inner diameter of said first tubular body; severing said second tubular body laterally to said longitudinal axis along said first blow-molded portion, thereby forming a blow-molded wide distal end having a distal edge, said wide distal end defining a lumen; severing said second tubular body laterally to said longitudinal axis along said second blow-molded portion, thereby forming a blow-molded wide proximal end having a proximal edge, said wide proximal end defining a lumen having a second inner diameter; transferring said stent and said blow-molded second tubular body from said first tubular body into an outer catheter; maintaining said stent in a compressed state as it is transferred from said first tubular body into said outer catheter; applying an adhesive to at least a portion of said tapered proximal end of said catheter tip; placing said catheter tip into said lumen of said wide distal end of said second tubular body; applying adhesive to an exterior portion of an end of a piece of tubing, said piece of tubing having an outer diameter that is slightly less than said inner diameter of said lumen of said wide proximal end of said second tubular body; and inserting said end of said piece of tubing into said lumen of said wide proximal end of said second tubular body.
-
Specification