Method and apparatus for flashless tipping of an I.V. catheter

• Main Author: DAUGHERTY; CHARLES W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.04.1987
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method and apparatus for tipping one end of an I.V. catheter includes the method steps for use of the apparatus including mounting a catheter to be tipped onto a mandrel supported on a carriage; a die having an interior molding surface, at least one portion of which is tapered according to the tip desired on the catheter, is heated; the carriage is moved along guide bars to the die such that the catheter carrying mandrel moves toward the interior molding surface to define a space, when the carriage is halted the catheter carrying mandrel is biased toward the die space with only sufficient force to cause the heated catheter to flow into the die space and as the catheter melts and flows, the mandrel engages the die thereby defining the edge of the catheter, after which the die and catheter therein are cooled; the carriage is then reversed along the guide bars such that the catheter and mandrel are withdrawn from the die, and the catheter is removed from the mandrel. An apparatus for performing the above described method is also disclosed.