EP0363953A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparation of catheter
Assignee: Terumo Corp
•
Filing: 1989-10-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-10-12
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 C/O Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Kohsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:06
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: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, bonding a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, bonding a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of bonding a tip member to the distal portion includes applying an adhesive or solvent.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion 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 tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion 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 tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, tapering the distal portion of the catheter body, bonding a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, tapering the distal portion of the catheter body, bonding a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body to the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, and thermoforming the catheter body distal portion and the tip member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the steps of preparing a catheter body and tapering the distal portion of the catheter body are included in a single step of forming a catheter body having a tapered distal portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of tapering the distal portion forms the tapered portion having a taper angle of about 5 to about 45 degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 or 6 wherein the step of tapering the distal portion includes thermoforming.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of bonding a tip member to the distal portion includes applying an adhesive or solvent.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion 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, engaging a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body over the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and heating the catheter body distal portion and the tip member thereby thermoforming and bonding them together.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion 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, engaging a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body over the diameter-reducing distal portion of the catheter body, and heating the catheter body distal portion and the tip member thereby thermoforming and bonding them together.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, tapering the distal portion of the catheter body, engaging a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body over the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, and heating the catheter body distal portion and the tip member thereby thermoforming and bonding them together.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for preparing a catheter, comprising the steps of preparing a catheter body having a distal portion and a lumen axially extending through the body to the distal end, tapering the distal portion of the catheter body, engaging a tip member of a material softer than the catheter body over the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, and heating the catheter body distal portion and the tip member thereby thermoforming and bonding them together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the steps of preparing a catheter body and tapering the distal portion of the catheter body are included in a single step of forming a catheter body having a tapered distal portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of tapering the distal portion forms the tapered portion having a taper angle of about 5 to about 45 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 or 12 wherein the step of tapering the distal portion includes thermoforming.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the heating step causes the catheter body distal portion and the tip member to be fusion bonded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of engaging the tip member over the tapered distal portion of the catheter body includes applying an adhesive between them whereby the adhesive is thermoset during the heating step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10 wherein in the step of engaging the tip member over the tapered distal portion of the catheter body, the tip member overlaps the tapered distal portion over a distance of about 50 to about 90% of the axial length of the tip member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, 4 or 10 wherein the tip member has a hardness of up to 95 in Shore A hardness.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the catheter body has a hardness of more than 95 in Shore A hardness.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, 4 or 10 wherein the material of which the tip member is formed contains a radiopaque agent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0144629A2
Cited
US4636272A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.