Claims
- 1. A method for producing a catheter assembly with a catheter configured to be readily split in half for ease of removal from insertion in a patient, said method comprising the steps of
- (a) simultaneously extruding a generally tubular catheter assembly with two diametrically formed v-shaped grooves formed therein, and v-shaped strips formed in said grooves, said generally tubular catheter being comprised of a different polymer from said strips;
- said extruding step including
- (1) selecting in a first selecting step an elongated tubular body comprised of a first polymer;
- (2) said body being defined by a wall having a first radial cross-sectional thickness through the length thereof;
- (3) said wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- (4) the said inner surface of said wall defining a lumen extending centrally through the length of said body;
- (5) said wall having two diametrically opposed grooves therein;
- (6) each of said grooves having a continuously decreasing width in cross-section from said outer surface to form a v-shaped;
- (7) the bottom of each said v-shaped groove being at a point spaced from said inner surface of said wall;
- (8) said bottom of each said v-shaped groove cooperating with said inner surface of said wall to form a second radial cross-sectional thickness for said wall adjacent each of said diametrically opposed grooves;
- (9) selecting in a second selecting step a pair of strips;
- (10) said strips being v-shaped and the same size as said diametrically opposed grooves;
- (11) said strips being comprised of a second polymer different from said first polymer;
- (12) said first and second polymers having differing solubility parameters for promoting poor adhesion therebetween; and
- (b) stripping said strips from said v-shaped grooves for forming a catheter with a continuous tubular wall but readily split in half.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising
- (a) said second areas of cross-sectional thickness are areas of uniform thickness providing preferential longitudinal tearing separation radially thereacross.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising
- (a) said first selecting step including selecting polyurethane as said first polymer; and
- (b) said second selecting step including selecting polyethylene as said second polymer.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 011,783, filed 2-6-87, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,846 issued 10-11-88.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2104226 |
Dec 1971 |
DEX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
11783 |
Feb 1987 |
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