PLASTIC TUBE WITH PLURAL LUMENS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

摘要

A plastic tube is provided which has a main lumen, an auxiliary lumen, and an integral connector at one end for connecting the main lumen in fluid communication with another device. The auxiliary lumen extends longitudinally within the side wall of the tube with the integral tube connector free of the auxiliary lumen. The tube can be made by extruding thermoplastic material through a die having a hollow main lumen die pin and a hollow auxiliary lumen die pin adjacent the die outlet orifice. Air under pressure is supplied to both die pins to produce tubing extrudate having main and auxiliary lumens. The pressure of the air supplied to the auxiliary lumen forming pin is reduced at programmed intervals during the extrusion of the tubing so that selected portions are free of an auxiliary lumen or have a lumen of limited size. The tubing can be severed so that it has a selected portion at one end that can serve as an end connector.