(45) Date of Reissued Patent: Oct. 26,2010
Related U.S. Patent Documents
Reissue of:
(64) Patent No.: 6,797,212
Issued: Sep. 28, 2004
Appl. No.: 10/414,777
Filed: Apr. 16, 2003
U.S. Applications:
(60) Provisional application No. 60/373,393, filed on Apr. 18, 2002.
(51) Int. CI.
B29C 33/52 (2006.01)
B29C 47/02 (2006.01)
B01D 69/08
(52) U.S. CI 264/317; 264/DIG. 44;
264/149; 264/171.12
(58) Field of Classification Search 264/313,
264/317, DIG. 44 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
JP 3-30889 * 2/1991
JP 3-135422 A2 * 6/1991
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Matthew J. Daniels
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,
Anderson & Citkowski, PC; Douglas L. Wathen
(57) ABSTRACT
A thin walled microtube is formed by providing a continuous elongated member having an outer surface. The member is at least partially formed of a water soluble material. A coating material is provided. The coating material may be a silicone compound that is curable such that the coating material cures into a substantial non-porous silicone. The outer surface of the elongated member is coated with a coating material so as to form a substantially uniform and continuous layer of coating material on the outer surface. The layer of coating material is cured so as to form a substantial uniform and continuous layer of substantially non-porous silicone on the outer surface. The elongated member is at least partially dissolved using water and purged from the silicone layer, such that an elongated tube of substantially non-porous silicone is formed.
60 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
