Method of producing a catheter and a catheter

Abstract

A method of producing a medical catheter having a catheter body part and a catheter tip in one integrated part by injection moulding and a catheter produced by the method. A multicomponent moulding technique for producing a catheter, e.g. a catheter made from two materials with different characteristics, is preferred. Such a catheter may be used for urinary catheterisation and for similar purposes of draining a bodily fluid.

1 . A method for producing a catheter with parts having different characteristics, said method comprising the steps of: 
 injecting at least two different fluid catheter materials into a mould formed to define an insertable catheter tip and body; and    subsequently solidifying the materials in said mold.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting the catheter materials into the mould in more than one injection cycle.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting two fluid catheter materials having different characteristics relating to the softness of the materials after solidification.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting two fluid catheter materials having different characteristics relating to the colours of the materials.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting two fluid catheter materials having different characteristics relating to the strengths of the materials.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting two fluid catheter materials having different characteristics relating to the slipperiness of the materials after solidification.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting includes injecting two fluid catheter materials having different characteristics relating to the ability of the solidified materials to absorb liquid substances.  
   
   
       8 . An injection moulded catheter made by injecting at least two different fluid catheter materials into a mould formed to define an insertable catheter tip and body and subsequently solidifying the materials in said mould.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein the catheter body has a first radial size, and wherein the tip has an intermediate part with a second radial size, the second radial size being larger than the first radial size.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter according to  claim 9 , comprising at least one opening between the intermediate part of the tip and the body for draining body fluid from a body cavity into the catheter.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter according to  claim 9 , wherein the tip has a narrow part with a third radial size which is smaller than the second radial size, the catheter comprising at least one opening between the narrow part and the intermediate part for draining body fluid from a body cavity into the catheter.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the materials is a hydrophilic polymer material.  
   
   
       13 . A method for producing a catheter with parts having different characteristics, said method comprising the steps of: 
 injecting a first catheter material into a mould formed to define an insertable catheter tip and body;    injecting a second catheter material having different characteristics into said mould; and    subsequently solidifying the materials in said mold.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said steps of injecting are performed at an injection pressure in a range of about 500 bar to about 1500 bar.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising forming a connector part simultaneously with at least one of said injecting steps.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising coating the mould with a hydrophilic material prior to said steps of injecting.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising combining the injecting steps with blow moulding.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a structure for attaching the catheter to a peripheral article is formed simultaneously with at least one of said injecting steps.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said connector part is formed simultaneously with a proximal insertion section of said catheter.