An armor for a heat shrink kit for joining a first length of heating cable and a second length of heating cable. The armor includes a spring configured to be positioned over at least a portion of the heat shrink kit, a first fastener configured to couple the spring to at least one of the first length of heating cable and the heat shrink kit, and a second fastener configured to couple the spring to at least one of the second length of heating cable and the heat shrink kit. The armor is configured to provide impact protection to the heat shrink kit.

A microcatheter comprising an inner layer, a strike layer and an outer layer and a braided skeleton located between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the inner layer is made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has a thickness of 0.0015 inch or less, wherein the strike layer includes a polyether block amide and has a thickness of 0.001 inch or less, and wherein a distal portion of said outer layer is made of polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane having a shore of 90A or below.

A microcatheter comprising an inner layer, a strike layer and an outer layer and a braided skeleton located between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the inner layer is made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has a thickness of 0.0015 inch or less, wherein the strike layer includes a polyether block amide and has a thickness of 0.001 inch or less, and wherein a distal portion of said outer layer is made of polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane having a shore of 90A or below.

A machine for applying tubular film to products includes a film feed path along which a supply of continuous tubular film is fed, and a sleeve eject station at which the film tubing is cut into sleeves that are ejected onto products passing the sleeve eject station. At least one sensor is positioned along the film feed path upstream of the sleeve eject station for detecting a splice in tubular film traveling along the film feed path. A controller is configured for controlling the machine such that, upon detection of a splice in the tubular film, a defective sleeve that includes the splice thereon is ejected into a gap between successive products so as to prevent application of the defective sleeve to any product.

A machine for applying tubular film to products includes a film feed path along which a supply of continuous tubular film is fed, and a sleeve eject station at which the film tubing is cut into sleeves that are ejected onto products passing the sleeve eject station. At least one sensor is positioned along the film feed path upstream of the sleeve eject station for detecting a splice in tubular film traveling along the film feed path. A controller is configured for controlling the machine such that, upon detection of a splice in the tubular film, a defective sleeve that includes the splice thereon is ejected into a gap between successive products so as to prevent application of the defective sleeve to any product.

A tool for fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member contained therein and method of use thereof is provided. The tool includes a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members attached to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another between an open state and a closed state. The clamp members have clamping surfaces, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces has at least one outlet. A fluid source is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one outlet, and a heat source is configured to heat fluid from the fluid source to create steam. The steam is dispensed outwardly from the at least one outlet to cause an adhesive on the sleeve to become activated to bond with an adjacent abutting surface.

A tool for fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member contained therein and method of use thereof is provided. The tool includes a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members attached to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another between an open state and a closed state. The clamp members have clamping surfaces, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces has at least one outlet. A fluid source is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one outlet, and a heat source is configured to heat fluid from the fluid source to create steam. The steam is dispensed outwardly from the at least one outlet to cause an adhesive on the sleeve to become activated to bond with an adjacent abutting surface.

A catheter and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed, which can restrain a guide wire lumen and a dilation lumen from communicating with each other during thermal fusion-bonding while suppressing an increase in an outer diameter of a catheter shaft. A catheter has a catheter shaft in which a distal side shaft, an inner tube shaft, and a proximal side shaft are integrated with each other in a fusion region. The inner tube shaft has an opening portion which, opens outward and an arc-shaped portion which extends from the opening portion to a proximal side and which has only a portion of an entire circumference in a circumferential direction of the inner tube shaft. The fusion region includes the opening portion located on a distal side of a proximal end of the distal side shaft.

A catheter and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed, which can restrain a guide wire lumen and a dilation lumen from communicating with each other during thermal fusion-bonding while suppressing an increase in an outer diameter of a catheter shaft. A catheter has a catheter shaft in which a distal side shaft, an inner tube shaft, and a proximal side shaft are integrated with each other in a fusion region. The inner tube shaft has an opening portion which, opens outward and an arc-shaped portion which extends from the opening portion to a proximal side and which has only a portion of an entire circumference in a circumferential direction of the inner tube shaft. The fusion region includes the opening portion located on a distal side of a proximal end of the distal side shaft.

A method of aspirating a vascular occlusion from a remote site is provided. The method includes the steps of advancing a first elongate tubular body through a vascular access site and into a body vessel, advancing a second tubular body distally to extend beyond the first elongate tubular body to reach the remote site, and aspirating thrombus from the site into the lumen by applying pulsatile vacuum to the first elongate tubular body. The second tubular body has a lumen and a length that is shorter than the first elongate tubular body. The pulsatile application of vacuum may cause the distal tip of the second tubular body to open and close like a jaw, which facilitates reshaping the thrombus or biting or nibbling the thrombus material into strands or pieces to facilitate proximal withdrawal under negative pressure through the lumen of the second tubular body.