US5447672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of capillary tubing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-01-14
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2014-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing flexible thick-wall capillary tubing, comprising the steps of extruding a plastics sheath around a filament of uniform diameter, and withdrawing the filament from the sheath to form a length of tubing having a capillary bore which has been defined by the filament. The method enables the manufacture of fine-bore capillary tubing having a tightly controlled bore diameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander G. B. O'Neil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/142; A61M5/145; A61M5/148; A61M5/152; A61M5/1407; A61M5/1409; A61M5/1452; A61M5/1454; A61M5/1456; B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/09; B29C48/10; B29C48/15; B29K; B29K2027/00; B29K2027/06; B29L; B29L2023/00; B29L2023/005; B29L2023/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of manufacturing a length of flexible thick-wall capillary tubing for restricting flow of fluid down to a rate of 0.1 milliliters per hour, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a filament having a substantially uniform external diameter along a length of said filament at least equal to the intended length of tubing to be manufactured; (b) forming a plastic sheath around said filament along at least said length of filament, said sheath having an internal diameter substantially defined by said external diameter of said filament, said sheath having an external diameter at least 5 times said internal diameter of said sheath; and (c) longitudinally withdrawing said filament from said sheath such that said sheath defines a capillary bore in the space previously occupied by said filament.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of manufacturing a length of flexible thick-wall capillary tubing for restricting flow of fluid down to a rate of 0.1 milliliters per hour, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a filament having a substantially uniform external diameter along a length of said filament at least equal to the intended length of tubing to be manufactured; (b) forming a plastic sheath around said filament along at least said length of filament, said sheath having an internal diameter substantially defined by said external diameter of said filament, said sheath having an external diameter at least 5 times said internal diameter of said sheath; and (c) longitudinally withdrawing said filament from said sheath such that said sheath defines a capillary bore in the space previously occupied by said filament.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external diameter of said filament is in the range from about 25 microns to about 250 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said length of said filament is in the range from about 1 centimeter to about 40 centimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastics sheath is formed around said filament by the step of extruding a plastics material around said filament.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filament is longitudinally withdrawn from said sheath by the steps of: (a) anchoring one end of said filament; and (b) repeatedly propagating a strain wave along said sheath from the end thereof adjacent said one end of said filament towards the opposite end of said sheath while applying longitudinal traction to said sheath in the direction of propagation of said strain wave to progressively detach said sheath from said filament, until said sheath is completely separated from said filament.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said strain wave is induced by the step of applying a localised compressive force to said sheath and said strain wave is propagated by the step of progressively displacing the locality of the application of said localised compressive force in said direction of propagation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheath has an external diameter at least 50 times said internal diameter of said sheath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubing is for restricting the flow of fluid to a rate of 1 milliliter per hour or less.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of manufacturing a length of flexible thick-wall capillary tubing for restricting flow of fluid down to a rate of 0.1 milliliters per hour, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a filament having a substantially uniform external diameter of about 25 microns to about 250 microns along a length of said filament at least equal to the intended length of tubing to be manufactured; (b) forming a plastic sheath around said filament along at least said length of filament, said sheath having an internal diameter substantially defined by said external diameter of said filament, said sheath having an external diameter at least 5 times said internal diameter of said sheath; and (c) longitudinally withdrawing said filament from said sheath such that said sheath defines a capillary bore in the space previously occupied by said filament.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of manufacturing a length of flexible thick-wall capillary tubing for restricting flow of fluid down to a rate of 0.1 milliliters per hour, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a filament having a substantially uniform external diameter of about 25 microns to about 250 microns along a length of said filament at least equal to the intended length of tubing to be manufactured; (b) forming a plastic sheath around said filament along at least said length of filament, said sheath having an internal diameter substantially defined by said external diameter of said filament, said sheath having an external diameter at least 5 times said internal diameter of said sheath; and (c) longitudinally withdrawing said filament from said sheath such that said sheath defines a capillary bore in the space previously occupied by said filament.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |