Methods of manufacturing flexible polymeric medical spiral tubings, tubings made by the methods and uses of the tubings

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing a length of a flexible polymeric medical tubing of the kind comprising a tubing member defining a lumen, which tubing member is surrounded by spiral convolutions along at least a part of the length of the proximal section and/or the distal section, and which medical tubing has a proximal convoluted section and a distal convoluted section, is disclosed, as well as medical tubings obtained by the methods and their uses. One method comprises the steps of providing a medical tubing wherein the proximal section and the distal section have substantially uniform initial pitch (P) between adjacent convolutions, and modifying the initial pitch (P) of at least a part of the proximal section by stretching at least a part of the proximal section to achieve a modified proximal section with a proximal pitch (P) between adjacent convolutions that is larger than the initial pitch (P) between adjacent convolutions. In another method the medical tubing is manufactured in a molding process. The so obtained medical tubing is particularly suited for use in open surgical procedures that requires suction and/or irrigation during use of an electrosurgical instrument.