Microbore catheters: keys to successful design and manufacture, Part II.

Catheter design and the manufacture of microbore tubing require a scientific process in which every design and process component, as well as their interactions, must be fully understood. Attention to detail on the design part and the extrusion/manufacturing part is essential. Less than optimum designs may cause a product not to be competitive and not to do well after its introduction to the market. An extrusion/manufacturing process that is not robust may result in low product manufacturing yields and product failures in the field. Resources spent up-front to ensure a competitive and robust product are always cost-effective.