Method of welding a sleeve to a tube, and device obtained thereby

A method of welding a sleeve to a tube, the method comprising:

• providing a tube, the tube comprising an outer layer comprising a first material, the outer layer further comprising at least one lateral opening and at least one lumen in fluid communication with the outside of the tube through the at least one lateral opening;
• providing a sleeve, the sleeve comprising two end portions opposite and open at respective ends, the sleeve being made of a second material not suitable for fusion with the first material of the outer layer of the tube;
• covering at least a tract of the tube including the at least one lateral opening of the outer layer with an outer coating of a third material compatible with fusion with the second material of the sleeve;
• putting the sleeve onto said coated tract of the tube at the at least one lateral opening;
• putting respective protective elements onto the end portions of the sleeve to cover each end portion of the sleeve, the protective elements comprising a material that cannot be fused with the second material of the sleeve and the third material of the outer coating of the tube;
• applying a respective heat-shrink element on at least one part of each end portion of the sleeve covered by the respective protective element;
• supplying each heat-shrink element with a quantity of heat to cause it to shrink and compress the respective end portion of the sleeve against the tube, where this quantity of heat is transmitted to the end portion of the sleeve to bring it to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting temperature of the second material and the third material, thereby obtaining a welding of the sleeve to the tube and producing a device comprising the tube with the sleeve.