Method of manufacturing a catheter sheath
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a catheter sheath, comprising:
- providing a tubular member of non-conductive material having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular member further having one or more electrical conductors extending from the proximal end to the distal end within the tubular member;
forming at least one opening in an outer wall of the tubular member for accessing the one or more electrical conductors within the tubular member;
placing at least one conductive element on the outer wall of the tubular member in electrically conductive connection with the one or more electrical conductors so that the at least one conductive element is adjacent to and surrounding the at least one opening;
induction heating the at least one conductive element so that the tubular member melts locally adjacent the at least one conductive element to attach the at least one conductive element to the outer wall of the tubular member and form a seal between the tubular member and the at least one conductive element at least along each edge of the at least one conductive element; and
applying a mold over the at least one conductive element prior to the induction heating to constrain the local melting of the tubular member to fill a transition zone between edges of the at least one conductive element and the tubular member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter sheath comprises a tubular member connected to a catheter handle, the tubular sheath including one or more electrical conductors and one or more electrode rings attached to the tip of the tubular member. The tubular member further includes at least one opening that allows the one or more electrical conductors to be electrically connected to the one or more electrode rings. The electrode ring is slid over the tubular member so as to cover the at least one opening. The tubular member and the electrode ring are subjected to heat treatment by induction heating so that the material of the tubular member melts locally around the electrode ring to form a seal between the tubular member and the electrode ring.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a catheter sheath, comprising:
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providing a tubular member of non-conductive material having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular member further having one or more electrical conductors extending from the proximal end to the distal end within the tubular member; forming at least one opening in an outer wall of the tubular member for accessing the one or more electrical conductors within the tubular member; placing at least one conductive element on the outer wall of the tubular member in electrically conductive connection with the one or more electrical conductors so that the at least one conductive element is adjacent to and surrounding the at least one opening; induction heating the at least one conductive element so that the tubular member melts locally adjacent the at least one conductive element to attach the at least one conductive element to the outer wall of the tubular member and form a seal between the tubular member and the at least one conductive element at least along each edge of the at least one conductive element; and applying a mold over the at least one conductive element prior to the induction heating to constrain the local melting of the tubular member to fill a transition zone between edges of the at least one conductive element and the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of manufacturing a catheter sheath, comprising:
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providing a tubular member of non-conductive material having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular member further having one or more electrical conductors extending from the proximal end to the distal end within the tubular member; forming at least one opening in an outer wall of the tubular member for accessing the one or more electrical conductors within the tubular member; placing at least one conductive element comprising a conductive ring on the outer wall of the tubular member in electrically conductive connection with the one or more electrical conductors so that the at least one conductive element is adjacent to and surrounding the at least one opening; reducing a diameter of the conductive ring after the placing on the outer wall of the tubular member to be flush with a diameter of the tubular member; induction heating the at least one conductive element so that the tubular member melts locally adjacent the at least one conductive element to attach the at least one conductive element to the outer wall of the tubular member and form a seal between the tubular member and the at least one conductive element at least along each edge of the at least one conductive element; and filling a transition zone between edges of the conductive ring and the tubular member with material of the tubular member by the induction heating of the at least one conductive element and local melting of the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification