Patent ID: 6192568
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: A61M,B29C,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making an intravenous catheter assembly, which includes:molding a material into a body having, at least a first hub having a diameter and at least a first malleable nose having a smaller diameter extending from the first hub, in a mold having a first component, a second component and a core pin, the first component connecting to an end of the first, malleable nose at the first hub, the second component connecting to an end of the first, malleable nose distant from the first hub;moving the first and second components away from one another, thereby elongating the first, malleable nose into a catheter that extends from the first hub; andinserting a needle product into the first hub and the catheter to produce the intravenous catheter assembly, the needle product including a needle and a chamber, the needle having a sharp tip located distant from the chamber, the sharp tip being used for piercing a body lumen so that the catheter assembly with the needle product can be inserted into the body lumen with the first hub located outside the body lumen and the catheter located inside the body lumen, the needle product being removable from the first hub and the catheter while the catheter is located inside the body lumen, the catheter being of a material that is sufficiently flexible so as to substantially conform to a natural shape of the body lumen when the needle product is removed from the first hub and the catheter while the catheter is located inside the body lumen.