Medico-surgical tubes and methods of manufacture

摘要

An epidural catheter 1 has a closed, soft patient end region 5 with a side opening 3. The catheter 1 is formed from a two-layer extruded tube 10 in which the outer layer 12 is of a harder material than the inner layer 11. A heated pin 20 is inserted in one end of the tube 10 to expand its diameter. An annular grinding tool 22 is then moved along the expanded region to remove the outer, hard layer 12 in this region. The end 2 of the tube is subsequently closed and the side opening 3 is formed <IMAGE>