Radial compression joint for biopsy needle or guidewire assembly

A medical component, comprising

• a first member;
• a second member;
• and
• a tube formed of a material comprising shape memory properties, the tube having a memorized shape comprising an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of the first and second members, the tube positioned so that an inner surface of the tube is in abutting contact with an outer surface of a first portion of the first member and an outer surface of a first portion of the second member, the tube providing a radially compressive force to the outer surfaces of the first and second members to maintain the first member in position relative to the second member at least by a static friction.

A medical component, comprising

• a first member;
• a second member;
• and
• an outer tube formed of a material having shape memory properties, the outer tube having a memorized shape comprising an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of the first and second members, the outer tube being positioned over an interface between the first and second members with an inner surface of the outer tube contacting outer surfaces of the first and second members so that, as the outer tube reverts toward the memorized shape, the outer tube provides a radially compressive force to the outer surfaces of the first and second members to maintain the first member in position relative to the second member.

A method for assembling a medical component, comprising:

• expanding a tube formed of a material comprising shape memory properties from a memorized shape comprising a first inner diameter to an expanded shape comprising a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter;
• passing the tube in the expanded shape over a first member and a second member, the first and second members having outer diameters less than the second inner diameter of the tube in the expanded shape and greater than the first inner diameter of the tube in the memorized shape;
• and
• bringing the tube to a temperature greater than a transition temperature of the material so that the tube attempts to contract to the memorized shape, the tube contracting so that an inner surface of the tube is in abutting contact with an outer surface of a first portion of the first member and an outer surface of a first portion of the second member, the tube providing a radially compressive force to the outer surfaces of the first and second members to maintain the first member in position relative to the second member at least by a static friction.