INTRAVASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY CATHETER WITH RAPID EXCHANGE PORT
A method for manufacturing a catheter ( 102 ) including a rapid exchange port ( 157 ). The method can include the steps of generating a port ( 258 ) in a catheter shaft ( 210 ), inserting a guidewire lumen ( 118 ) into the port ( 258 ), pulling the guidewire lumen ( 118 ) in a proximal direction, and pushing the guidewire lumen ( 118 ) in a distal direction so that the guidewire lumen ( 118 ) is within the catheter shaft ( 210 ). The method can also include the steps of thermally bonding the guidewire lumen ( 118 ) within the catheter shaft ( 210 ), trimming the guidewire lumen ( 118 ) so that a guidewire lumen ( 118 ) proximal end is flush with a catheter shaft ( 210 ) exterior.
1 . A method for manufacturing a catheter including a rapid exchange port, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a port in a catheter shaft;
inserting a guidewire lumen into the port;
pulling the guidewire lumen in a proximal direction; and
pushing the guidewire lumen in a distal direction so that the guidewire lumen is within the catheter shaft
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of thermally bonding the guidewire lumen within the catheter shaft.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the step of thermally bonding occurs subsequent to the step of pushing the guidewire lumen.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the step of thermally bonding includes positioning a heat shrink over a portion of the catheter shaft.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the heat shrink includes a heat shrink tubing.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of trimming the guidewire lumen so that a guidewire lumen proximal end is flush with a catheter shaft exterior.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the step of trimming is completed using a fixture.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the step of trimming occurs subsequent to the step of pulling the guidewire lumen.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pushing occurs using a fixture.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pushing occurs subsequent to the step of pulling the guidewire lumen.
11 . A method for manufacturing a catheter including a rapid exchange port, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a port in a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft including a polymer;
inserting a guidewire lumen into the port;
trimming the guidewire lumen so that a guidewire lumen proximal end is flush with a catheter shaft exterior;
pulling the guidewire lumen in a proximal direction; and
pushing the guidewire lumen in a distal direction so that the guidewire lumen is within the catheter shaft.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of thermally bonding the guidewire lumen within the catheter shaft.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the step of thermally bonding is completed subsequently to the step of pushing.
14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the step of thermally bonding includes positioning a heat shrink over a portion of the catheter shaft.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the heat shrink includes heat shrink tubing.
16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of pulling occurs subsequent to the step of inserting the guidewire lumen.
17 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of trimming is completed using a fixture.
18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of pushing is completed using a fixture.
19 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of trimming occurs subsequent to the step of pulling the guidewire lumen.
20 . A method for manufacturing a catheter including a rapid exchange port, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a port in a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft including a polymer;
inserting a guidewire lumen into the port;
pulling the guidewire lumen in a proximal direction;
trimming the guidewire lumen so that a guidewire lumen proximal end is flush with a catheter shaft exterior, the step of trimming being completed after the step of pulling the guidewire, the step of trimming being completed using a fixture;
pushing the guidewire lumen in a distal direction using the fixture; and
thermally bonding the guidewire lumen within the catheter shaft.