Catheter

Abstract

Abstract 1467976 Catheters INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO 25 March 1974. [5 April 1973] 13093/74 Heading A5R A method of manufacturing a catheter comprises steps of providing an external tube 12 having a drainage lumen 14 and an inflation lumen 15, providing a first aperture 25 communicating with the inflation lumen adjacent the distal end of the tube, plugging the inflation lumen by a plug 32, moulding a closed end sleeve 21, depositing bands of adhesive around the tube at regions 16, 20, mounting the sleeve 21 on the distal end of the tube and then securing it to the tube by applying radial pressure to the assembly of the tube and the sleeve, and lastly providing a second aperture 24, communicating with the drainage lumen, through the sleeve and the tube, the modulus of elasticity of the sleeve being less than that of the tube. The tube regions 16, 20 are reduced in diameter by grinding before applying the adhesive material, such as heat curable silicone rubber or room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber, thereby defining an annular shoulder region 18, the latter preventing the flow of the adhesive onto it during the process of bonding the sleeve and the tube together. The sleeve 21, is manufactured using a vertical, flashless moulding technique (Fig. 6 not shown). The tube with the sleeve positioned on its distal end is then placed in the mould 70 and a pressurizing source 71, connected to the drainage lumen, exerts radial pressure on the assembly of the tube and the sleeve. In case of a heat activated adhesive, the mould may be simultaneously heated by a heating element provided in the mould. After providing the aperture, the catheter may be post cured. The rounded tip 23 of the sleeve is substantially solid to make it rigid and may be provided with a cavity 26 to receive a stylet. In another embodiment, (Figs. 5, 8 not shown) the distal end of the tube is bevelled and the tip is provided with an annular rearwardly extending protrusion (37) for its engagement with the drainage lumen and thereby to facilitate the alignment of the sleeve with the tube. A radio-opaque tip, non- integral with the sleeve may be provided.

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

Bibliographic Details