Process of molding a catheter

Claim 1

The process of manufacturing a catheter which comprises: a. providing a mold with a first wire longitudinally disposed therein, said first wire having a widened cross-section at its proximal end; b. providing a second wire spaced distally from said first wire and longitudinally aligned therewith; c. positioning a follower about the first wire on close abutment with both the first wire and inside 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, said follower being initially positioned proximally of the distal end of the mold and distally of the widened cross-section of the wire; d. introducing a molding material into said annular space proximally of the proximal side of said follower under a pressure sufficient to distally displace said follower whereby molding material is molded around the widened and unwidened portions of the first wire; e. continuing to introduce said molding material into said mold until said follower is displaced off said first wire and onto said second wire whereby there is formed a catheter including a drainage lumen, a funnel and a catheter tip; f. stripping the resulting catheter from the first wire; and g. providing at least one hole at the distal end of the catheter in communication with said drainage lumen.