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US 5,397,512 AGranted
Process for sealing catheter tip to insertion needle
AssigneeCritikon, Inc.
InventorsThomas E. Sloane, Jr., Zinovy Altman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process is provided wherein a laser is used to shape and/or trim a polymer tubular catheter material while in situ on a metal insertion needle or cannula. The laser process seals the interface between the polymer catheter material and the metal cannula to prevent the flow of blood between the tubular catheter and the introducing cannula during insertion into a patient. The interface is of sufficient strength to resist such blood flow, but still sufficiently weak to prevent the removal of the cannula needle after insertion into a patient.
Claims6
A process for sealing a catheter to an insertion needle comprising:
- a) positioning a tubular polymer catheter over a concentric insertion needle;
- b) rotating said catheter and needle about a longitudinal axis thereof at a predetermined position;
- c) impinging a laser light at a predetermined angle upon the catheter and needle subassembly, said laser light being of sufficient power to partially melt said polymer material to form a frustoconical tip to the tubular material with at least a portion of said polymer material adhering said tubular catheter to a surface of said needle, creating a seal between said tubular catheter material and said needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.