Polymer shrink tubes and novel uses therefor
AssigneeGore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
InventorBenjamin M. Trapp
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Abstract
Novel polymer shrink tubes, such as fluoropolymer shrink tubes and novel uses thereof. The polymer shrink tubes include at least one three-dimensional pattern formed along at least a portion of the inner surface of the tube. The polymer shrink tubes can be used for, for example, embossing a pattern into a polymer tube. Further use includes, for example, forming a catheter with at least one channel located in the catheter wall.
Claims49
A catheter comprising:
- a fluoropolymer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface defining a longitudinally extending, generally central lumen and an outer surface;
- an outer polymer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the outer polymer tube is positioned over the outer surface of the fluoropolymer tube;
- wherein at least one channel is located in the outer polymer tube, the at least one channel measuring about 7 by about 15 mils and extending for at least a portion of the length of the catheter;
- and
- polymer film covering at least a portion of the length of the at least one channel, thus defining at least one longitudinally extending lumen in the catheter.
A method of creating an external embossed pattern on the exterior of a cylindrical device comprising:
- providing a polymer tube having at least an exterior surface;
- providing a shrink tube having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface having a three-dimensional pattern thereon;
- placing the shrink tube around the polymer tube;
- applying sufficient energy to the shrink tube so as to shrink the shrink tube around the exterior of the polymer tube, causing at least a portion of the three-dimensional pattern to become embossed into the exterior surface of the polymer tube.
A method for forming a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end comprising the steps of:
- providing a fluoropolymer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface defining a longitudinally extending, generally central lumen, and an outer surface;
- providing an outer polymer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the outer polymer tube is positioned over the outer surface of the fluoropolymer tube;
- providing a polymer shrink tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the inner surface having at least one three-dimensional pattern thereon;
- placing the polymer shrink tube around the outer polymer tube, with the polymer shrink tube inner surface adjacent the outer surface of the outer polymer tube;
- applying sufficient energy to the shrink tube so as to shrink the shrink tube around the outer polymer tube, causing at least a portion of the at least one three-dimensional pattern to become embossed into the outer polymer tube;
- removing the polymer shrink tube;
- and
- covering at least a portion of the at least one three-dimensional pattern with polymer film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.