摘要 |
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for manufacturing an integral one-piece catheter having a tube and a hub. The method comprises feeding molten material into a mold having a mold cavity. A fluid such as a gas is injected into an inlet of the mold. This causes the cavity to eject the molten central region of the polymer through an exit channel. In one embodiment, a gas is injected into the hub portion of the cavity. In another embodiment, a gas is injected into the catheter portion of the mold. The invention also involves forming a first portion of an intravascular device using a first material in a first mold. Thereafter the first portion of the intravascular device is inserted into a second mold to form a second portion using a second material. Gas is then introduced to form a hollow channel in the second portion. The invention also involves a first portion of the mold is injected with a first material, and a second portion of the cavity is injected with a second material at or around the same time that the first material is injected into the first portion of the cavity. Gas is then introduced to form a hollow channel in the second portion. <IMAGE> |