Method of making a catheter with an integral Luer lock means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method of making plastic catheters having an integral connector portion of the Luer lock type which has sufficient wall thickness for good rigidity, and a main portion having good flexural characteristics throughout its length.
Another object is to provide a method of making a catheter having an integral Luer lock connector which may have any desired length and yet be economical to make.
Another object is to provide a novel method of making a plastic cannula having an integral Luer lock connector portion having relatively thick walls, and a main portion with relatively thin walls and a relatively narrow diameter, and which avoids the above-mentioned undesirable aspects associated with the process of injection molding and the two-piece process.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of making a plastic catheter having integral Luer lock means includes the steps of forming, by extruding plastic material, a tube having a portion with a relatively small diameter, and a portion with a relatively large diameter, and heat forming the portion of relatively large diameter to provide Luer lock means thereon.
These as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing in which corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts.