Patent ID: 6914212

Claim:
A method of forming a feature on a cannula comprising: providing a hollow, metal cannula having a first end, a second end, an axis, a length extending from the first end to the second end, and an outer surface extending over at least a first portion of the length; providing an annular metal sleeve with an exterior surface, a proximal shoulder and a distal shoulder, the sleeve having a length extending from the proximal shoulder to the distal shoulder, wherein the length of the sleeve is less than the length of the first portion of the cannula; wherein the sleeve includes two edges extending axially along the length of the sleeve, from the proximal shoulder to the distal shoulder, thereby defining a slit; positioning the sleeve on the cannula at the first portion of the cannula such that the sleeve contacts the cannula at least one contact point; and welding the sleeve, using a laser welder, to the cannula at the contact point to form a mechanical junction.