Thin-walled spiral tube for use with endoscope
A polymeric device including: an elongated hollow tube having an outer surface; and a spiral fin wound around the outer surface of the hollow tube; wherein the hollow tube and the spiral fin are formed of a single unitary piece through a molding process. The polymeric device can further include a longitudinal projection projecting from the outer surface of the hollow tube, the longitudinal projection having a greater thickness than other portions of the hollow tube and the longitudinal projection extending at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the hollow tube.
1. A polymeric device comprising:
an elongated hollow tube having an outer surface, the elongated hollow tube being configured to be rotatably attached to an insertion section of an endoscope; and
a spiral fin wound around the outer surface of the hollow tube;
wherein the hollow tube and the spiral fin are formed of a single unitary piece through a molding process.
2. The polymeric device of claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal projection projecting from the outer surface of the hollow tube, the longitudinal projection having a greater thickness than other portions of the hollow tube and the longitudinal projection extending at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the hollow tube.
3. The polymeric device of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal length of the longitudinal projection extends from a portion of the spiral fin nearest an end of the hollow tube to the end of the hollow tube.
4. The polymeric device of claim 2 , further comprising an end ring formed at an end of the hollow tube, the end ring having a thickness projecting from the outer surface of the hollow tube, the longitudinal length of the longitudinal projection extends from a portion of the spiral fin nearest the end of the hollow tube to the end ring.
5. The polymeric device of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal projection extends at least the portion of the longitudinal length of the hollow tube at a single circumferential position.
6. A polymeric tubular member comprising:
an elongated hollow tube having an outer surface;
a spiral fin wound around the outer surface of the hollow tube; and
a longitudinal projection projecting from the outer surface of the hollow tube, the longitudinal projection having a greater thickness than other portions of the hollow tube and the longitudinal projection extending at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the hollow tube;
wherein the hollow tube, the spiral fin and the longitudinal projection are formed of a single unitary piece through a molding process.
7. The polymeric tubular member of claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal length of the longitudinal projection extends from a portion of the spiral fin nearest an end of the hollow tube to the end of the hollow tube.
8. The polymeric tubular member of claim 6 , further comprising an end ring formed at an end of the hollow tube, the end ring having a thickness projecting from the outer surface of the hollow tube, the longitudinal length of the longitudinal projection extends from a portion of the spiral fin nearest the end of the hollow tube to the end ring.
9. The polymeric tubular member of claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal projection extends at least the portion of the longitudinal length of the hollow tube at a single circumferential position.
10. The polymeric device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated hollow tube having a wall thickness between 0.1 and 2 mm.
11. The polymeric device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated hollow tube having a longitudinal length of 50 mm or more.
12. The polymeric tubular member of claim 6 , wherein the elongated hollow tube having a wall thickness between 0.1 and 2 mm.
13. The polymeric tubular member of claim 6 , wherein the elongated hollow tube having a longitudinal length of 50 mm or more.