Shrink tubing jacket construction, and method

Abstract

A shrink tubing jacket construction enables blade-free or enhanced removal of shrink tubing from an underlying substrate, such as a catheter construction. The shrink tubing jacket construction comprises a length of shrink tubing and one or more tear members located within the wall of the shrink tubing. The wall of the shrink tubing has a certain first material strength and the tear member has a certain second material strength, such that when the tear member is in tension, the second material strength functions to slice through the wall of the shrink tubing for enabling blade-free removal of the same. Paired tear members may be diametrically opposed such that when simultaneously tensioned in a diametrical direction, the net stress on the underlying substrate is minimized during the slicing action.

1 . A shrink tubing jacket construction for enabling blade-free removal of shrink tubing from an underlying substrate, the shrink tubing jacket construction comprising:
 an axial length of shrink tubing, the shrink tubing having an inner tubing diameter, an outer tubing diameter, a tubing length, a tubing wall, and a first lumen, the tubing wall being bound by the inner and outer tubing diameters and the tubing length, the tubing wall having a tubing material strength, the inner tubing diameter for receiving the underlying substrate, the first lumen extending through the tubing wall intermediate the inner and outer tubing diameters, the first lumen having a lumen length at least equal to the tubing length; and   a first tear member, the first tear member being insertable through the First lumen thereby being received within the tubing wall, the first tear member having a member length and a member material strength, the member length having a magnitude at least equal to the lumen length, the member material strength being greater in magnitude than the tubing material strength such that when the first tear member is tensioned in a diametrical direction relative to the shrink tubing, the first tear member slices through the first lumen and tubing wall toward a select tubing diameter.   
   
   
       2 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 1  wherein the first lumen is formed in the tubing wall closer to the inner tubing diameter relative to the outer tubing diameter, the first tear member being diametrically directed toward the outer tubing diameter during slicing action thereby leaving a minimized material membrane adjacent the inner tubing diameter, the minimized material membrane being manually rupturable for manually removing the shrink tubing from the underlying substrate. 
   
   
       3 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 1  comprising a second lumen substantially identical to the first lumen, and a second tear member substantially identical to the first tear member, the second lumen being diametrically opposed to the first lumen, the second tear member being insertable through the second lumen, the first and second tear members for slicing through the first and second lumens and the tubing wall in diametrically opposite directions. 
   
   
       4 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 3  wherein the first and second tear members are collinearly tensionable with substantially equal tension for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       5 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 1  comprising a slotted jig, the slotted jig being constructed from a substantially rigid material and comprising a slot and an inner jig diameter, the inner jig diameter being greater in magnitude than the outer tubing diameter for receiving the shrink tubing, the slot being orientable in radially outward adjacency to the first lumen, the first tear member being tensioned in a diametrical direction through the slot, the rigid material of the slotted jig for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       6 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 1  comprising tear member-accessing means for enabling a user to more easily access the tear member. 
   
   
       7 . A shrink tubing jacket construction for enhancing removal of shrink tubing from an underlying substrate, the shrink tubing jacket construction comprising:
 shrink tubing, the shrink tubing having an inner tubing diameter, an outer tubing diameter, and a tubing wall, the tubing wall having a tubing material strength, the inner tubing diameter for receiving the underlying substrate; and   a first tear member, the first tear member being located in the tubing wall, the first tear member having a member material strength, the member material strength being greater in magnitude than the tubing material strength such that when the first tear member is tensioned in a diametrical direction relative to the shrink tubing, the first tear member slices through the tubing wall toward a select tubing diameter.   
   
   
       8 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 7  wherein the first tear member is located in the tubing wall in closer proximity to the inner tubing diameter relative to the outer tubing diameter, the first tear member being directed toward the outer tubing diameter during slicing action thereby leaving a minimized material membrane adjacent the inner tubing diameter, the minimized material membrane being manually rupturable for manually removing the shrink tubing from the underlying substrate. 
   
   
       9 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 7  comprising a second tear member, the second tear member being opposed to the first tear member, the first and second tear members for slicing through the tubing wall in diametrically opposite directions. 
   
   
       10 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 9  wherein the first and second tear members are collinearly tensionable for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       11 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 7  comprising a slotted jig, the slotted jig being constructed from a substantially rigid material and comprising a slot and an inner jig diameter, the inner jig diameter being greater in magnitude than the outer tubing diameter for receiving the shrink tubing, the slot being orientable in adjacency to the first tear member, the first tear member being tensioned in a diametrical direction through the slot, the rigid material of the slotted jig for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       12 . The shrink tubing jacket construction of  claim 7  comprising tear member-accessing means for enabling a user to more easily access the tear member. 
   
   
       13 . A tear-removable jacket for enhancing removal of sheath-protecting tubing from an underlying substrate, the jacket comprising:
 tubing material, the tubing material having an inner tubing diameter, an outer tubing diameter, and a tubing wall, the tubing wall having a tubing material strength, the inner tubing diameter for sheath-protecting the underlying substrate; and   a tear member, the tear member being extruded into the tubing wall, the tear member having a member material strength, the member material strength being greater in magnitude than the tubing material strength such that when the tear member is tensioned in a diametrical direction relative to the tubing material, the tear member slices through the tubing wall toward a select tubing diameter.   
   
   
       14 . The tear-removable jacket of  claim 13  wherein the tear member is located in the tubing wall in closer proximity to the inner tubing diameter relative to the outer tubing diameter, the tear member being directed toward the outer tubing diameter during slicing action thereby leaving a minimized material membrane adjacent the inner tubing diameter, the minimized material membrane being manually rupturable for manually removing the jacket from the underlying substrate. 
   
   
       15 . The tear-removable jacket of  claim 13  comprising two tear members, the two tear members being diametrically opposed for slicing through the tubing wall in diametrically opposite directions. 
   
   
       16 . The tear-removable jacket of  claim 15 wherein the two tear members are collinearly tensionable for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       17 . The tear removable jacket of  claim 13  usable in combination with a slotted jig, the slotted jig being constructed from a substantially rigid material and comprising a slot and an inner jig diameter, the inner jig diameter being greater in magnitude than the outer tubing diameter for receiving the tubing material, the slot being orientable in adjacency to the tear member, the tear member being tensioned in a diametrical direction through the slot, the rigid material of the slotted jig for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate during slicing action. 
   
   
       18 . The tear-removable jacket of claim ______ comprising tear member-accessing means for enabling a user to more easily access the tear member. 
   
   
       19 . A method for selectively outfitting a substrate with a shrink jacket, the method comprising the steps of:
 locating a first tear member intermediate an inner and outer tubing diameter through a length of shrink tubing at a sheath-slicing depth;   receiving an underlying substrate within the inner tubing diameter;   reducing the inner tubing diameter for sheath-protecting the underlying substrate;   tensioning the first tear member in a diametrical direction relative to the length of shrink tubing; and   slicing through the shrink tubing from the sheath-slicing depth toward a select tubing diameter via the tensioned first tear member.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of locating the first tear member is defined by forming a member-receiving lumen intermediate the inner and outer tubing diameter through the length of shrink tubing at the sheath-slicing depth and inserting the first tear member in the member-receiving lumen. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of locating the first tear member is defined by locating the tear member closer to the inner tubing diameter relative to the outer tubing diameter, the first tear member being directed toward the outer tubing diameter during the step of tensioning the first tear member, the slicing action leaving a minimized material membrane adjacent the inner tubing diameter, the minimized material membrane being manually rupturable for manually removing the shrink tubing from the underlying substrate. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of reducing the inner tubing diameter is defined by heat-shrinking the shrink tubing. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the step of locating a second tear member diametrically opposed to the first tear member intermediate the inner and outer tubing diameters through the length of shrink tubing at the sheath-slicing depth, the first and second tear members being collinearly tensionable for slicing through the shrink tubing with minimized stress and strain on the underlying substrate. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the step of jig-enveloping the shrink tubing while slicing through the shrink tubing, the jig-enveloped shrink tubing for minimizing stress and strain on the underlying substrate.