Patent ID: 9642983
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: A61M,B32B

Claim:
1. A method of forming a transition region of a catheter shaft, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first tubular member having a first end and a second end; providing a second tubular member having a first end and a second end; abutting the first end of the first tubular member to the second end of the second tubular member such that the first and second tubular members are in an end-to-end longitudinal orientation; placing a sleeve comprising a polymeric material having highly oriented molecular chains over a portion of the first tubular member and a portion of the second tubular member such that the sleeve extends over the first end of the first tubular member and the second end of the second tubular member; placing a heat shrink tubing over the polymeric sleeve; heating the heat shrink tubing, thereby compressing the heat shrink tubing around the polymeric sleeve; thermally bonding the polymeric sleeve to the first tubular member and the second tubular member, wherein the abutting end surfaces of the first and second tubular members are not bonded together; and removing the heat shrink tubing.