The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2007
Andrew Jeffrey, Tuebingen, DE;
Louise Balfe, Stuttgart, DE;
Lorcan Coffey, Tuebingen, DE;
Arik Zucker, Zurich, CH;
Kay Unzicker, Jestetten, DE;
Zdravkica Dzakula, Buelach, CH;
Ib Joergensen, Haigerloch, DE;
Randolf Von Oepen, Los Altos Hills, CA (US);
Andrew Jeffrey, Tuebingen, DE;
Louise Balfe, Stuttgart, DE;
Lorcan Coffey, Tuebingen, DE;
Arik Zucker, Zurich, CH;
Kay Unzicker, Jestetten, DE;
Zdravkica Dzakula, Buelach, CH;
Ib Joergensen, Haigerloch, DE;
Randolf von Oepen, Los Altos Hills, CA (US);
Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited, Dublin, IE;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a catheter having a soft distal tip that can be manufactured at lower cost than catheters in the prior art. In one embodiment, the catheter is produced by coupling a soft sleeve to the distal end of a catheter tube. The sleeve may affixed to the catheter tube under temperature and pressure conditions that cause the proximal end of the sleeve to taper against the outer surface of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the insertion profile of the catheter, and that also cause the inner wall of the sleeve to taper against the distal end of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the lumen of the catheter.