Process for molding of hollow articles

The process of manufacturing a hollow article with a solid tip which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein and containing a first follower disposed about the first wire in close abutment with both the first wire and the inside wall of the mold, said first follower maintaining the first wire spaced from the inside wall of the mold so as to define an annular space between the first wire and the inside of the mold;
• b. providing a second wire spaced distally from the first wire and longitudinally aligned therewith;
• c. bridging the space between the first wire and the second wire with a second follower;
• d. introducing a molding material into said annular space proximally of the proximal end of the first follower thereby distally displacing the first follower;
• e. continuing to introduce said molding material into the mold to continue the distal displacement of the first follower, thereby engaging the second follower and, thereafter, distally displacing the first and second follower off the first wire and into the second wire whereby there is formed the tip of the hollow article;
• and
• f. stripping the resulting hollow article from the first wire.

The process of manufacturing a hollow article which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein and containing a follower disposed about the first wire in close abutment with both the first wire and inside wall of the mold, said follower maintaining the first wire spaced from the inside wall of the mold so as to define an annular space between the first wire and the inside of the mold;
• b. providing a second wire spaced distally from said first wire and longitudinally aligned therewith;
• c. positioning the first follower in the mold so that it spans at least 50% of the length of the first wire and at the same time bridges the space between the first wire and second wire;
• d. introducing a molding material into said annular space proximally of the proximal end of the follower under a pressure sufficient to distally displace said follower;
• e. continuing to introduce said molding material into said annular space until said follower is entirely displaced off said first wire and onto said second wire whereby there is formed a hollow article having a solid tip;
• and
• f. stripping the resulting hollow article from said first wire.

The process of manufacturing a hollow article which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein and containing a follower disposed about the first wire in close abutment with both the first wire and inside wall of the mold, said follower maintaining the first wire spaced from the inside wall of the mold so as to define an annular space between the first wire and inside of the mold;
• b. positioning the follower so that it seals a set of gates provided in the mold and spans at least about 50% of the length of the first wire;
• c. introducing a molding material into said annular space proximally of the proximal end of the follower under pressure thereby distally displacing the first follower past the set of gates;
• d. thereafter introducing the molding material into the annular space through the set of gates and continuing to distally displace the follower while material is molded around the first wire;
• and
• e. stripping the resulting hollow article from the first wire.

A process for producing a hollow article with a tip which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a drainage lumen wire longitudinally disposed therein, said drainage lumen wire having a widened cross section at its proximal end;
• b. providing an inflation lumen wire longitudinally disposed in the mold, said inflation lumen wire also having a widened cross section at its proximal end;
• c. positioning a first follower distally of the widened portions of the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires, said first follower sealing a first set of gates in the mold;
• d. positioning a second follower distally of said first follower, said second follower sealing a second set of gates in the mold, said first and second followers disposed about the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires in close abutment with the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires and inside wall of the mold, said first and second followers maintaining the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires and inside wall of the mold spaced from each other so as to define a molding channel in the mold;
• e. introducing molding material under pressure into the molding channel proximally of the proximal end of the first follower whereby material is molded around the widened portions of the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires;
• f. continuing introducing molding material into the molding channel thereby distally displacing the first follower and unsealing the first set of gates;
• g. thereafter introducing molding material into the molding channel through the first set of gates and continuing to distally displace the first follower while molding material is molded around the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires;
• h. continuing the distal displacement of the first follower thereby also distally displacing the second follower and unsealing the second set of gates;
• i. thereafter introducing material into the molding channel through the second set of gates and continuing to distally displace the first and second followers while material is molded around the drainage lumen and inflation lumen wires;
• j. continuing the distal displacement of the first and second followers until both followers have been distally displaced from the inflation lumen and drainage lumen wires, thereby forming a hollow article with a solid tip;
• k. stripping the resulting hollow article from the drainage and inflation lumen wires.

The process of manufacturing a hollow article which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein and containing first and second followers disposed about the first wire in close abutment with both the first wire and inside wall of the mold, said followers maintaining the first wire spaced from the inside wall of the mold so as to define an annular space between the first wire and the inside wall of the mold;
• b. positioning the second follower proximally of the distal end of the mold and spaced distally from the first follower thereby sealing a gate provided in the mold;
• c. introducing a molding material under pressure into said annular space proximally of the proximal end of the first follower thereby distally displacing the first follower;
• d. continuing the distal displacement of the first follower thereby engaging the second follower and, thereafter, distally displacing both the first and second followers thereby unsealing the gate;
• e. thereafter introducing molding material into the annular space through the gate to continue the distal displacement of the followers while material is molded around the first wire;
• and
• f. stripping the resulting hollow article from the first wire.

The process of manufacturing a hollow article which comprises:

• a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein and containing a follower disposed about the first wire in close abutment with both the first wire and inside wall of the mold, said follower maintaining the first wire spaced from the inside wall of the mold so as to define an annular space between the first wire and inside of the mold;
• b. positioning the follower so that it seals a gate, provided in the mold and spans at least about 50% of the length of the first wire;
• c. introducing a molding material into said annular space proximally of the proximal side of the follower under pressure thereby distally displacing the first follower past the gate;
• d. thereafter introducing the molding material into the annular space through the gate and continuing to distally displace the follower while material is molded around the first wire;
• and
• f. stripping the resulting hollow article from the first wire.