Patent ID: 6638468
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A method of forming a thinned-wall polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube comprising the steps of:providing a PTFE tube having an inner tubular wall surface and opposed outer tubular wall surface defining a tubular wall of a first wall thickness; positioning said PTFE tube over a first elongate luminal roller having a first surface in contact with said inner tubular wall surface; positioning a second elongate roller against said outer tubular wall surface; and counter rotating said first and second rollers to compress said tubular wall between said first and second rollers to reduce said tubular wall first thickness to a lesser second thickness; wherein said PTFE positioning step further includes positioning said PTFE tube over said first luminal roller and over a tensioning roller, said tensioning roller being moveable away from said first luminal roller to maintain said PTFE tube in outward radial tension.