초록 ▼

A polymeric tube for a medical catheter is provided with elongated metal stripes extending lengthwise along the tube by illuminating the exterior surface of the tube patternwise and treating metal responsive to the illumination. The tube may be covered with a photoresist and moved axially past a plu

A polymeric tube for a medical catheter is provided with elongated metal stripes extending lengthwise along the tube by illuminating the exterior surface of the tube patternwise and treating metal responsive to the illumination. The tube may be covered with a photoresist and moved axially past a plurality of light beams while rotating the tube about its axis so as to form a helical pattern. After development of the photoresist, the metal is deposited or removed in a pattern corresponding to the pattern formed in the photoresist, so as to leave helical metallic stripes. The metallic stripes may have varying helical pitch, varying width or both along the length of the tube, and may serve as electrical connectors and physical reinforcements for the tube wall.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of making an elongated catheter comprising the steps of:(a)providing a polymeric tube;(b)forming a metal on an exterior surface of the tube into a pattern including a plurality of elongated stripes of metal spaced circumferentially around said tube and extending

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of making an elongated catheter comprising the steps of:(a)providing a polymeric tube;(b)forming a metal on an exterior surface of the tube into a pattern including a plurality of elongated stripes of metal spaced circumferentially around said tube and extending lengthwise along the tube, said forming step including the steps of illuminating the exterior surface of the tube patternwise and treating said metal responsive to said illumination.