1. A catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft and a distal tip, the distal tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal tip having an inner surface and an outer surface, and in a longitudinal cross-sectional profile view of the distal tip, the inner surface curves towards the outer surface at the distal end and is substantially straight proximal the distal end, and the outer surface curves toward the inner surface or the outer surface remains substantially unchanged at the distal end and is substantially straight proximal the distal end.
2. (canceled)
3. The catheter of claim 1, the inner surface having a first circumference at the distal tip and a second circumference proximal the distal tip, wherein the first circumference at the distal tip is at least 10% larger than the second circumference proximal the distal tip.
4. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal tip is formed from at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyimides, polyesters, silicones, rubbery block copolymers, latex, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.
5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal tip is formed from a block copolymer.
6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is formed of a polymeric material which is softer than said polymeric material from which said catheter shaft is formed as measured by a Shore Durometer scale.
7. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is formed from a polymeric material which has a hardness which is equal to or greater than the polymeric material from which the catheter shaft is formed as measured by a Shore Durometer scale.
8. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the curvature of the outer surface substantially mirrors the curvature of the inner surface.
9. A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft having a distal tip, the distal tip having an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of:
providing said catheter shaft and said distal tip; and
rounding the inner surface of the distal tip such that the circumference of the inner surface increases in a longitudinal direction toward the distal tip.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of rounding the outer surface of the distal tip.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the rounding step comprises laser ablation of material from the surface.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said laser is an ultraviolet laser.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said laser produces UV radiation having a wavelength of about 450 nm or less.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein said laser produces UV radiation having a wavelength of about 351 nm or less.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the distal tip is integral with said catheter shaft.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the distal tip is formed separately from said catheter shaft and the method further comprises the steps of disposing the distal tip on the catheter shaft.
17. The catheter of claim 5 wherein said block copolymer has styrene end-blocks and diene mid-blocks.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An incline conveyor having an input end and an output end, comprising:
a. a first gearbox that is operably connected to a first driven roller, where said first gearbox and said first driven roller are mounted at the input end of the conveyor;
b. a second gearbox that is operably connected to a second driven roller, where said second gearbox and said second driven roller are mounted at the output end of the conveyor;
c. an endless conveyor belt extending about said first driven roller and said second driven roller;
d. means for providing power to the conveyor;
e. a driveline that operably connects said means for driving the conveyor with said first driven roller and said second driven roller.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first driven roller and said second driven roller are slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on said endless conveyor belt by adjusting the position of said first driven roller and said second driven roller.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first gearbox is operably connected to said first driven roller with a first drive belt.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first gearbox is slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on the respective said first drive belt when the position of said first driven roller is adjusted.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said driveline includes a fixed driveline portion and a telescoping driveline portion, whereby said telescoping driveline portion can be extended or retracted to accommodate the adjustable position of said first gearbox.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said endless conveyor belt has a carrying surface that is substantially uneven.
7. A cleated belt incline conveyor comprising:
a. a first driven roller disposed at the input end of the conveyor;
b. a second driven roller disposed at the output end of the conveyor;
c. an endless conveyor belt extending about said first driven roller and said second driven roller;
d. means for providing power to the conveyor;
e. means for transferring power that operably connects said means for providing power to the conveyor with said first driven roller and said second driven roller.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first driven roller and said second driven roller are slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on said endless conveyor belt by adjusting the position of said first driven roller and said second driven roller.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first gearbox is operably connected to said first driven roller with a first drive belt.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first gearbox is slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on the respective said first drive belt when the position of said first driven roller is adjusted.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said driveline includes a fixed driveline portion and a telescoping driveline portion, whereby said telescoping driveline portion can be extended or retracted to accommodate the adjustable position of said first gearbox.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said endless conveyor belt has a carrying surface that is substantially uneven.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second gearbox is operably connected to said second driven roller with a second drive belt, and said second gearbox is slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on the respective said second drive belt when the position of said second driven roller is adjusted.
14. An incline conveyor having an input end and an output end, comprising:
a. a first gearbox that is operably connected to a first driven roller, where said first gearbox and said first driven roller are mounted at the input end of the conveyor;
b. a second gearbox that is operably connected to a second driven roller, where said second gearbox and said second driven roller are mounted at the output end of the conveyor;
c. an endless conveyor belt extending about said first driven roller and said second driven roller, where said endless conveyor belt has a bottom surface that contacts said first driven roller and said second driven roller, and where said endless conveyor belt has a top surface and a plurality of cleats attached to the top surface;
d. wherein said first driven roller and said second driven roller are slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on said endless conveyor belt by adjusting the position of said first driven roller and said second driven roller;
e. means for providing power to the conveyor;
f. a driveline that operably connects said means for driving the conveyor with said first driven roller and said second driven roller.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first gearbox is operably connected to said first driven roller with a first drive belt.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first gearbox is slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on the respective said first drive belt when the position of said first driven roller is adjusted.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said driveline includes a fixed driveline portion and a telescoping driveline portion, whereby said telescoping driveline portion can be extended or retracted to accommodate the adjustable position of said first gearbox.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second gearbox is operably connected to said second driven roller with a second drive belt, and said second gearbox is slidably mounted in order to maintain tension on the respective said second drive belt when the position of said second driven roller is adjusted.