A cannula for inserting into the body

Claim 2

A unitary, integral cannula for insertion into a body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of a patient, said cannula being adapted to be positioned within said patient by means of a radiological image, said cannula comprising: a cannula member having a distal end; and radiopaque means separately constructed and integrally attached to said cannula member near said distal end of said cannula member for determining the location in said radiological image of said cannula within said body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, thus preventing injury to said patient and insuring the proper placement of said cannula within said patient.

Claim 3

The cannula of claim 1 wherein said radiopaque means comprises a preformed radiopaque tip dielectrically attached to said distal end of said cannula member.

Claim 4

The cannula of claim 2 wherein said radiopaque means is softer than said cannula member to prevent injury to said patient.

Claim 5

The cannula of claim 2 wherein the inner and outer diameters of said cannula are substantially uniform to provide a cannula having smooth interior and exterior surfaces for preventing the accumulation of mucus and other bodily secretions within said cannula and to prevent injury to said patient.

Claim 6

A composite cannula, comprising: a parent cannula member; and radiopaque tip means having a hardness different than that of said parent cannula member, said tip means being constructed apart from said parent cannula member and integrally attached to the distal end of said parent cannula member by radio frequency dielectric heating so that the respective mating ends of said parent cannula member and said radiopaque,tip form substantially continuous smooth external and internal wall surfaces on said composite cannula to prevent the accumulation of mucus and other bodily secretions within said cannula and to prevent injury to said patient when said composite cannula is inerted into a body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of said patient, and said radiopaque means having a configuration which is distinguishable in a radiological image from bodily parts for determining the location of said cannula within said body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, thus preventing injury to said patient by insuring proper placement of said composite-cannula within said patient.

Claim 7

A composite cannula, comprising: a parent cannula member; and radiopaque tip means having a hardness different than that of said parent cannula member, said tip means being constructed apart from said parent cannula member and integrally attached to the distal end of said parent cannula member by radio frequency dielectric heating so that the respective mating ends of said parent cannula member and said radiopaque,tip form substantially continuous smooth external and internal wall surfaces on said composite cannula to prevent the accumulation of mucus and other bodily secretions within said cannula and to prevent injury to said patient when said composite cannula is inerted into a body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of said patient, and said radiopaque means having a configuration which is distinguishable in a radiological image from bodily parts for determining the location of said cannula within said body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, thus preventing injury to said patient by insuring proper placement of said composite-cannula within said patient.

Claim 8

A cannula for insertion into a body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of a patient, said cannula being formed by joining at least two distinct elements, comprising: a parent cannula member having distal and proximal ends; and a radiopaque tip fused to said distal end of said cannula member to form a unitary cannula with said cannula member for substantially preventing detachment of said radiopaque tip within said cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of said patient.

Claim 9

A cannula for insertion into a body cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of a patient, said cannula being formed by joining at least two distinct elements, comprising: a parent cannula member having distal and proximal ends; and a radiopaque tip fused to said distal end of said cannula member to form a unitary cannula with said cannula member for substantially preventing detachment of said radiopaque tip within said cavity, duct, vessel, and the like, of said patient.

Claim 10

A cannula for insertion into the body of a patient, said cannula being adapted to be positioned by means of a radiological image, comprising: a main cannula member; and radiopaque means for determining the location of said cannula within said patient's body without substantially obstructing the view of bodily parts, said radiopaque means being attached to said cannula member to provide a cannula having a homogeneous structure.

Claim 11

A cannula for insertion into the body of a patient, said cannula being adapted to be positioned by means of a radiological image, comprising: a main cannula member; and radiopaque means for determining the location of said cannula within said patient's body without substantially obstructing the view of bodily parts, said radiopaque means being attached to said cannula member to provide a cannula having a homogeneous structure.

Claim 12

A dielectric heating device for generating a high frequency electrical current to heat the nted ends of a cannula member and a radiopaque tip, thereby joining said mated ends at a joint to form a unitary, integral cannula for insertion into the body of a patient, said dielectric heating device comprising: an annular outer electrode positioned over said cannula proximate said joint so that the interior surface of said outer electrode closely surrounds said cannula, said interior surface comprising: a mid-section positioned generally adjacent said joint, the inner diameter of said mid-section closely approximating the outer diameter of said cannula providing means for concentrating said heat at said joint and forming a substantially smooth exterior surface on said cannula; and tapered end sections having gradually increasing inner diameters just slightly larger than said inner diameter of said mid-section for providing air vent means for permitting the escape of air from the vicinity of said joint and for preventing the burning of said cannula; an elongate inner electrode inserted within said cannula so as to be generally opposite said outer electrode, said inner electrode having an enlarged section located generally at said joint for concentrating said heat at said joint; insulation means encapsulating said inner electrode for (i) preventing said cannula from burning and (ii) forming an inner mandrel, the outer diameter of said inner mandrel closely approximating the inner diameter of said cannula for forming a substantially smooth interior surface on said cannula, Paid mandrel including groove means for venting air from the vicinity of said joint and preventing the burning of said cannula; means for conducting high frequency electrical current through said electrodes and said mated ends of said cannula to heat said mated ends; and means for exerting an axial force on said tip for eliminating irregularities in the mating surfaces of said cannula member and said tip and for fusing said mating surfaces together to form said unitary, integral, cannula.

Claim 13

A dielectric heating device for generating a high frequency electrical current to heat the nted ends of a cannula member and a radiopaque tip, thereby joining said mated ends at a joint to form a unitary, integral cannula for insertion into the body of a patient, said dielectric heating device comprising: an annular outer electrode positioned over said cannula proximate said joint so that the interior surface of said outer electrode closely surrounds said cannula, said interior surface comprising: a mid-section positioned generally adjacent said joint, the inner diameter of said mid-section closely approximating the outer diameter of said cannula providing means for concentrating said heat at said joint and forming a substantially smooth exterior surface on said cannula; and tapered end sections having gradually increasing inner diameters just slightly larger than said inner diameter of said mid-section for providing air vent means for permitting the escape of air from the vicinity of said joint and for preventing the burning of said cannula; an elongate inner electrode inserted within said cannula so as to be generally opposite said outer electrode, said inner electrode having an enlarged section located generally at said joint for concentrating said heat at said joint; insulation means encapsulating said inner electrode for (i) preventing said cannula from burning and (ii) forming an inner mandrel, the outer diameter of said inner mandrel closely approximating the inner diameter of said cannula for forming a substantially smooth interior surface on said cannula, Paid mandrel including groove means for venting air from the vicinity of said joint and preventing the burning of said cannula; means for conducting high frequency electrical current through said electrodes and said mated ends of said cannula to heat said mated ends; and means for exerting an axial force on said tip for eliminating irregularities in the mating surfaces of said cannula member and said tip and for fusing said mating surfaces together to form said unitary, integral, cannula.

Claim 14

A dielectric heating device for integrally joining mated ends of a pair of tubular members to form a cannula for insertion into the body of the patient, said dielectric device capable of generating a high frequency electrical current, comprising: an outer electrode adapted to surround said mated ends of said tubular members; an inner electrode positioned within said tubular members and generally opposite said outer electrode; means for conducting said high frequency electric current between said electrodes and through said mated ends of said tubular members to heat and securely join said mated ends together to form said cannula; and die means on said electrodes for (i) forming substantially smooth surfaces on said cannula to prevent the accumulation of mucus and other bodily secretions within said cannula and to prevent injury to said patient, and (ii) preventing the burning or scorching of said cannula during said heating of said mated ends of said tubular members.

Claim 15

A dielectric heating device for integrally joining mated ends of a pair of tubular members to form a cannula for insertion into the body of the patient, said dielectric device capable of generating a high frequency electrical current, comprising: an outer electrode adapted to surround said mated ends of said tubular members; an inner electrode positioned within said tubular members and generally opposite said outer electrode; means for conducting said high frequency electric current between said electrodes and through said mated ends of said tubular members to heat and securely join said mated ends together to form said cannula; and die means on said electrodes for (i) forming substantially smooth surfaces on said cannula to prevent the accumulation of mucus and other bodily secretions within said cannula and to prevent injury to said patient, and (ii) preventing the burning or scorching of said cannula during said heating of said mated ends of said tubular members.