Patent ID: RE41870

Claim:
A method for forming a thin walled microtube, comprising the steps of: providing a continuous elongated member having an outer surface, the member being at least partially formed of a water soluble material , the continuous elongated member being a continuous thin walled tube ; providing a coating material, the coating material comprising a silicone compound, the compound being curable such that the coating material cures into a substantially non-porous silicone; coating the outer surface of the elongated member with the coating material in a substantially continuous process so as to form a substantially uniform and continuous layer of coating material on the outer surface; curing the layer of coating material so as to form a substantially uniform and continuous layer of substantially non-porous silicone on the outer surface; at least partially dissolving the elongated member using water; and purging the at least partially dissolved member from the silicone layer; whereby an elongated microtube of substantially non-porous silicone is formed.