# US 2016/0354584 A1 · Tubular component design and method of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354584 A1 - Document ID: US20160354584A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/175,774 - Filed: 2016-06-07 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-08 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: BRIAN J. HANSON; STEVEN KOCH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354584A1 ## CPC - A61M 25/0013: {Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility} - A61M 25/0051: {made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer} - B23K 26/389: {of fluid openings, e.g. nozzles, jets} - A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61M 2025/09108: {Methods for making a guide wire} - B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting - B23K 2101/04: Tubular or hollow articles - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method of manufacturing a medical device is disclosed. The method comprises laser cutting a tubular member. The tubular member may have an inner surface, an outer surface and a tubular wall defining a thickness extending therebetween. The method may also include laser cutting the member. Laser cutting may include removing a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall at one or more discrete locations along the tubular wall. The method may also include chemically etching the one or more discrete locations to form a slot within the tubular wall at the one or more discrete locations along the tubular member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising: laser cutting a tubular member, the tubular member having an inner surface, an outer surface and a tubular wall defining a thickness extending therebetween, wherein laser cutting the member includes removing a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall at one or more discrete locations along the tubular member; and chemically etching the one or more discrete locations to form a slot within the tubular wall at the one or more discrete locations along the tubular member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting includes laser cutting with a femtosecond laser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming a slot within the tubular wall includes removing the tubular wall from the outside surface to the inner surface of the tubular member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming a slot within the tubular wall includes removing a portion of the tubular wall from the outside surface to a location between the outside surface and the inner surface of the tubular member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting the tubular member includes ablating a portion of the tubular wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting to remove a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall includes removing at least 80% of the thickness of the tubular wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting creates a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and wherein the first wall portion is longitudinally aligned with the second wall portion and wherein a connecting portion extends between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion is continuous. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion is discontinuous. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising performing laser cutting prior to chemical etching. ### Claim 11 A method of manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising: laser cutting a tubular member, the tubular member having an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a tubular wall defining a thickness, wherein laser cutting the member includes removing a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall to form one or more cavities in the tubular wall; and chemically etching the tubular member to form a slot within the tubular wall at the one or more cavities along the tubular member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein laser cutting includes using a femtosecond laser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein removing a portion of the thickness of the tubular wall includes removing at least 80% of the tubular wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein laser cutting includes ablating a portion of the tubular wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein chemically etching the tubular member includes bathing the tubular member in an acid bath while rotating the tubular member, translating the tubular member, or both. ### Claim 16 A medical device, comprising: an elongate shaft including a tubular member, the tubular member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a tubular wall extending between the outer surface and the inner surface and a plurality of slots extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and wherein the plurality of slots are created by laser cutting one or more cavities in the tubular wall at one or more discrete locations along the outer surface of the tubular member and chemically etching the one or more cavities. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein laser cutting includes using a femtosecond laser. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein laser cutting includes ablation a portion of the tubular wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein creating the one or more cavities includes removing a portion of the tubular wall, and wherein chemically etching includes removing the remaining portion of the tubular wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical device of claim 19, wherein removing a portion of the tubular wall includes removing at least 80% of a thickness of the tubular wall.