US 5,951,929 AGranted

Method for forming a catheter having overlapping welds

AssigneeMedi-Dyne Inc.

InventorJames C. Wilson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In a method of forming a catheter having an inner layer, an intermediate braided layer and an outer jacket, wherein the intermediate braided layer terminates axially before the inner layer, leaving a forward end portion of the inner layer exposed, the steps of: a) before applying the outer jacket, loading a plastic sleeve over a forward end of the intermediate braided layer adjacent the forward end portion of the inner layer; b) heating the plastic sleeve to a temperature sufficient to melt the plastic sleeve; c) loading a terminal tip having an axial length over a forward end portion of the inner layer into abutting relationship with the forward end of the intermediate braided layer such that the terminal tip is supported by the forward end portion of the inner layer along all of the axial length of the terminal tip and not reinforced anywhere along the axial length by the intermediate braided layer; d) loading the outer jacket over the braided layer; e) loading a shrink tube over the outer jacket; and f) heating to cause the shrink tube to compress the outer jacket into the interstices of the intermediate braided layer.

Claims11

Dependent claims

a) before applying the outer jacket, loading a plastic sleeve over a forward end of the intermediate braided layer adjacent the forward end portion of the inner layer;
and
b) loading a first shrink tube over the plastic sleeve and heating the shrink tube to a temperature sufficient to melt the plastic sleeve;
c) removing the first shrink tube;
d) loading a terminal tip having an axial length over the forward end portion of the inner layer, into abutting relationship with the forward end of the intermediate braided layer such that the terminal tip is supported by said forward end portion of said inner layer along all of said axial length of said terminal tip and not reinforced anywhere along said axial length by said intermediate braided layer;
e) loading the outer jacket over said intermediate braided layer into abutting contact with said terminal tip;
f) loading a second shrink tube over the outer jacket and the terminal tip;
and
g) heating the second shrink tube to cause the second shrink tube to compress the outer jacket and to cause the outer jacket to melt into interstices of the intermediate braided layer and contact the inner layer.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/979,549Filed 26 Nov 1997 · continuation
Priority: 12 Dec 1995
Granted: 14 Sep 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B29D 23/001
Producing tubular articles: pipes; Pipe joints
A61M 25/0009
Catheters; Hollow probes: making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
A61M 25/0012
Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes: with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils
A61M 25/005
Characterised by structural features: with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Family

Serial570,941Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Dec 1995
Serial596,759Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Feb 1996
Serial673,563Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Jul 1996
US 5,772,641 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Jun 1998
US 5,951,929 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.