US5017259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparation of catheter including bonding and then thermoforming
Assignee: Terumo Corp
•
Filing: 1989-10-10
•
Granted: 1991-05-21
•
Expires: 2009-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A catheter is manufactured by tapering a distal portion of a hollow catheter body, bonding a tip member of relatively soft material to the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadashi Kohsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/001; B; B29; B29C; B29C57/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion with a distal end, and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, processing the distal portion of the catheter body such that the outer diameter of the distal portion reduces toward the distal end, bonding a hollow cylindrical tip member of a material softer than the catheter body and having an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the catheter body to the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and next thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member such that outer and inner wall surfaces of the tip member connect smoothly to those of the catheter body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion with a distal end, and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, processing the distal portion of the catheter body such that the outer diameter of the distal portion reduces toward the distal end, bonding a hollow cylindrical tip member of a material softer than the catheter body and having an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the catheter body to the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and next thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member such that outer and inner wall surfaces of the tip member connect smoothly to those of the catheter body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of preparing a catheter body and processing the distal portion of the catheter body are included in a single step of forming a catheter body having a tapered distal portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the distal portion includes forming a tapered portion having a taper angle of about 5 to about 45 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the distal portion includes thermoforming of the distal portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of bonding the tip member to the distal portion includes applying an adhesive or solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of bonding the tip member over the diameter reducing distal portion of the catheter body, the tip member overlaps the diameter reducing distal portion over a distance of about 50 to about 90% of the axial length of the tip member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of processing the distal portion includes thermoforming to form the tapered portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the tip member has a hardness of up to 95 in Shore A hardness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the material of which the tip member is formed contains a radiopaque agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said next thermoforming step includes forcibly inserting the catheter body while carried on a mandrel and having the tip member bonded to the distal portion of the catheter body, into a mold cavity, and heating the catheter body and the tip member inside the mold cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE136719C
Cited
GB1152546A
Cited
US3605750A
Cited
US3890976A
Cited
US4022500A
Cited
US4361152A
Cited
US4044765A
Cited
US4263236A
Cited
US4385635A
Cited
US4419095A
Cited
US4563181A
Cited
US4531943A
Cited
EP0144629A2
Cited
US4551292A
Cited
US4636272A
Cited
US4886506A
Cited
WO1988006465A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-20 | 1994-11-19 | 1995-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-20 | 1998-11-19 | 1999-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-20 | 2002-11-19 | 2003-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |