In an aspect, a biaxially oriented pipe has a thickened end portion. The end portion has the same inner diameter as the biaxially oriented pipe and has a larger thickness than the biaxially oriented pipe. The end portion is made of the same thermoplastic polymer composition as the biaxially oriented pipe.

The present invention relates to heat-shrinkable articles, including tubes, O-ring, sleeves, sealants possessing outstanding elastomeric properties, ability to elastic deformation beyond 200%, and ability to precisely and completely recover design dimensions, while possessing significantly improved mechanical properties, in particular higher tensile strength; to a method of making the same, and to a method of using the same including reverting to a shrunk state. The heat shrinkable article is made of a composition comprising at least one fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer comprising at least one elastomeric block and one thermoplastic block, iodine and/or bromine cure sites, at least one organic peroxid, and at least one polyunsaturated compound.

Fluid delivery systems comprising catheters used to deliver a fluid into a medical device to which the catheter is attached. Methods and devices for eliminating the effects angular strain on the catheters that lead to kinking and pinching of the catheter.

A process produces a tubular hybrid molding made of a plastics foam element that exhibits temperature-dependent shrinkage and a fiber-plastics composite. The method includes inserting the plastics foam element, unhardened first and second fiber-plastics composite sections into a mold, where the plastics foam element has open pores at locations in contact with the fiber-plastics composite. The plastics foam element and the fiber-plastics composite sections are shaped by the mold. The mold is exposed to a first temperature to minimize the viscosity of the resin in the fiber-plastics composite. The mold is exposed to a second temperature to harden the fiber-plastics composite and to achieve mechanical fixing of the plastics foam element thereon. The mold is exposed to a third temperature to shrink the plastics foam element and cause its shape to conform to that of the mold and achieve a final shape of the said element.

A protective textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a seamless, tubular braided wall having a plurality of yarns braided with one another. A plurality of the yarns are high temperature, non-heat-shrinkable yams and a plurality of the yarns are heat-shrinkable yams, wherein the heat-shrinkable yams are shrinkable at a temperature that does not cause the high temperature, non-heat-shrinkable yarns to shrink. The sleeve has a first length and first thickness upon being braided, and a second length that less than the first length and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness upon being exposed to a single heat-treat process.

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.

The invention is directed to a heating assembly for catheter manufacture which includes a heating element having a central vertical passage and a plurality of gas flow passages in communication with the central passage. The passages are at an angle relative to the central passage increasing heat transfer surface area. The invention may also include an iris assembly. The iris assembly includes a plurality of discs having slits which are offset relative to another disc. The invention may also include an insulation chamber surrounding the heating element. The flow of gas previously heated by the exterior of the thermos coupler and heating element is restricted by the insulation chamber for passage through the gas flow passages and into the central passage, so that the gas receives additional heat for exposure to sheathing material to be bound to a catheter.

A first component (16) for a personal care device comprises a first coupling interface for allowing the first component (16) to be releasably and repeatably coupled to a second component for the personal care device via a second coupling interface of the second component. The first coupling interface comprising a portion of material (38) that can change shape with changes in temperature to couple the first coupling interface to the second coupling interface. The portion of the material (38; 60) is configured to deform during coupling and uncoupling, and to revert towards an original shape after the first coupling interface and the second coupling interface have been coupled or uncoupled. The invention also provides a personal care device (10) comprising the first component (16; 12), and the second component (12; 16) having the second coupling interface.

The invention relates to a modification process for modifying a biaxially oriented pipe, comprising a) providing a biaxially oriented pipe made by stretching a tube made of a thermoplastic polymer composition in the axial direction and in the peripheral direction, b) placing an insert within an end portion of the pipe, wherein the outer periphery of the cross section of the insert substantially matches the inner periphery of the cross section of the pipe and c) heating the end portion such that the end portion axially shrinks while the inner periphery of the cross section of the end portion is substantially maintained, to obtain a modified biaxially oriented pipe with a thickened end portion

A medical device, such as an electrophysiology catheter, has an elongate body including a wall. A reinforcing layer is encapsulated in the wall. The reinforcing layer includes one or more reinforcing fibers having glass cores and polymer claddings. In embodiments, the one or more reinforcing fibers are non-magnetically-susceptible and non-electrically-conductive, facilitating use of the medical device in connection with procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).