Method for making disposable tubular device

Abstract

A method of making a disposable tubular device comprising extruding a first material through a first die to form the tube and moving the tube through the second die while extruding a second material through the second die to form the tube-support structure. The second material has a surface hardness which is greater than the surface hardness of the first material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to disposable tubular devices of the type used with medical instruments for delivering fluid to or evacuating fluid from a patient.Tubular devices for transporting fluids between a patient and a medical instrument are typically used by medical professionals such as physicians, dentists and dental technicians, and veterinarians for suctioning fluid from or irrigating a part of a patient's body. One such tubular device is a disposable syringe tip for an air-water dental syringe.A typical syringe tip has a central water passageway and at least one passageway through which air may flow. The tip is typically sealingly retained in a syringe hand-piece by a retaining collar which compresses an O-ring against the tip to seal the connection between the tip and the handpiece. Between uses of the syringe, the tip must be removed from the hand-piece by wholly or partially disengaging the retaining collar. The tip is then either sterilized before...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved tubular device for conveying fluid between a medical instrument and a patient; the provision of such a device which is adapted for self-sealing to a fluid conduit of the medical instrument; the provision of such a device which is easily attached to and detached from the medical instrument; the provision of such a device which is disposable; and the provision of such a device which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage encountered with prior syringe tip designs is the difficulty in having a quickly detachable tip which provides a water-tight seal between the central water passageway of the tip and a water conduit of the hand-piece.

In such syringes, water may leak between the conduit and the tip.

Also, unless the O-ring is squeezed between the hand-piece and the tip, the O-ring will not prevent leakage.

Further, the force of water from the conduit tends to unseat the tip from the O-ring.

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