Thin-wall polytetrafluoroethylene tube
 A thin-wall PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube in the form of a tube of porous expanded PTFE film wherein the porous PTFE film has a microstructure containing a multiplicity of fibrils oriented substantially parallel to each other. The tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.25 mm and is made from at least one first layer and at least one second layer of porous PTFE film, wherein the fibrils of the first and second layers are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Preferably the fibrils of the at least one first layer are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and the fibrils of the at least one second layer of porous PTFE film are oriented substantially circumferential to the tube. The first and second layers may be inner and outer layers respectively, or alternatively their relationship may be reversed. Alternatively, either of the first and second film layers may be replaced with alternative reinforcing components such as a braid or at least one reinforcing rib. The reinforcing rib is preferably in the form of a helically-wrapped metal wire located between the first and second layers. 
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
B B B B B B B B A B A B B B A Y B B B A A B B B B B A B B B B B A B A A Y Y F A A B Y A B B B
B29L B32B B29C B32B B29K B32B B29L B32B A61F B32B A61L B29C B29K B29K A61F Y10T B29C B29L B29L A61F A61F B29C B29K B29L B29C B29D A61L B29K B29L B29K B29C B32B A61F B32B A61L A61L Y10T Y10T F16L A61L A61L B29L Y10T A61B B32B B29D B29L
additional inventional inventional inventional additional inventional additional inventional inventional inventional inventional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional additional inventional inventional inventional additional additional additional inventional inventional additional inventional inventional inventional additional additional inventional inventional inventional additional additional additional inventional inventional additional
Donald G. M. James D. David J. Clayton M. Carey V.
Goffena Lewis Myers Sparling Campbell