Patent ID: 7968032

Claim:
A method of making a joint for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheath having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion defining a first sheath passageway therebetween and an outer surface at or near the distal end portion; providing a second sheath having a distal first end portion and proximal second end portion, entry and exit ports defining a second sheath channel, and an outer surface at or near the proximal second end portion; conjoining the first sheath distal end portion and the second sheath proximal second end portion; after the conjoining, positioning a first mandrel within the first sheath passageway and the second sheath channel and positioning a second mandrel on the first sheath outer surface and within the second sheath channel; after the positioning of the first and second mandrels, disposing a melt-bonding material about the first sheath distal end portion, the second sheath proximal second end portion, and the second mandrel; disposing a shrink-wrap material about the melt-bonding material, the first sheath distal end portion, and second sheath proximal second end portion; heating the shrink-wrap material and the melt-bonding material; melting the melt-bonding material about the first and second mandrels, the first sheath distal end portion, and the second sheath proximal second end portion; and cooling the melt-bonding material to solid state to form a joint comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining at least one channel therebetween, the joint proximal end portion and the first sheath outer surface being operatively coupled by a melt bond, and the joint distal end portion and the second sheath outer surface being operatively coupled by a melt bond.