| 主权项 |
1. A method of making a catheter comprising a polymer tube with openings therein, said method comprising:
providing a tube and punching at least one opening in the tube by advancing a cutting member in a substantially radial direction into the wall of the tube and providing the at least one opening with a three-dimensional edge contour, whereby central, straight sections of the edge contour of the opening become lower than the outer contour of the tube when the tube is viewed from the side, and end sections of the edge contour of the opening curve outwards towards the straight outer contour of the tube itself; manipulating an outer peripheral edge region of the at least one opening by rounding the peripheral edge of the punched opening in the tube by advancing a heated forming member a predetermined distance into the opening and providing the peripheral edges of the opening with a shape corresponding to a shape of a distal end of the forming member, said distal end of the forming member is provided with a rounded shoulder transition portion at a foot of the distal end and with a protrusion extending from said shoulder transition region, said protrusion having a form fitting the opening in the tube, said distal end of the forming member being shaped so that it matches the three-dimensional contour of the edge of the punched opening in the tube, a contour of the shoulder transition portion of the distal end of the forming member is shaped with two end sections with substantially straight sections therebetween, corresponding to the end sections and the central straight sections of the edge contour of the opening, respectively, the substantially straight sections of the contour of the shoulder transition portion extend substantially in the same plane, the end sections of the contour of the shoulder transition portion curve out of said plane; holding said heated forming member in said advanced position for a predetermined holding time; and retracting the forming member. |
