Method and apparatus for flashless tipping of an I.V. catheter

A method of tipping by molding one end of an I.V. catheter, without any flash comprising the steps of;

• mounting a catheter to be tipped coaxially over a cantilever support mandrel carried on a carriage whereby said catheter is even with or extends slightly beyond the end of said mandrel,
• heating a die having an interior molding surface at least one portion of which is tapered according to the tip desired on said catheter and is open at both ends for allowing flow of catheter material therethrough,
• moving said carriage along a guide means toward said die such that said catheter carrying mandrel enters said die and carries said catheter toward engagement with said tapered molding surface,
• continuing moving said mandrel into said die and forcing said catheter into the space being established between and by the mandrel and the tapered molding surface of said die,
• allowing said catheter to heat and flow in and through said space between the tapered molding surface of the die and the mandrel and flow there through between the end of the mandrel and along the tapered die surface toward said open end,
• advancing said flowing heated catheter and carrying mandrel until said mandrel engages said interior tapered molding surface,
• severing the flowing tip of said catheter where said mandrel engages said interior tapered molding surface to ultimately define said space and the catheter tip shape as a continuous fine edge and to allow the flow of catheter material beyond said mandrel and to said open end of said die,
• cooling said die and said catheter while holding said catheter in said space defined by said mandrel and said tapered die surface,
• reversing said carriage along said guide such that said catheter is withdrawn from said die, and
• removing said catheter from said mandrel.