Abstract: A flexible tube production apparatus includes a die composed of: a cylindrical inner die having an outer face in which a groove is formed; a tubular member that is housed inside the inner die, and has a through-hole that allows a blade wire to be inserted from one end to the other end thereof; and an outer die that surrounds the inner die such that a predetermined gap is generated between itself and the outer face of the inner die, and has an extrusion hole that extrudes the resins having been supplied to the gap, onto the outer face of the blade wire that is fed from the other end of the tubular member. A resin supply portion supplies a first resin and a second resin to the die while the motor rotates the inner die about a center axis.

Abstract: Provided is a production apparatus capable of producing a flexible tube whose hardness is naturally varied along the length direction thereof. This mixing valve includes: a first valve configured to distribute a first resin to a resin supply path and a resin discharge path; and a second valve configured to distribute a second resin to the resin supply path and the resin discharge path. In the mixing valve, the mixing proportion between the first resin and the second resin is increased or decreased in association with molding of the flexible tube, by changing a distribution ratio of the first resin in the first valve and a distribution ratio of the second resin in the second valve while keeping constant the total of the supply mounts of the first resin and the second resin supplied to a die.

Abstract: A catheter molding apparatus that includes a fore-stage extrusion molding device for extrusion molding an inner layer tube of resin so as to fit a core wire material of metal therein, a braided layer attaching unit for attaching a braided layer made by the braiding of a reinforcing thread to the outer surface of the inner layer tube molded by the fore-stage extrusion molding device and once cooled, thereby molding a braided tube. The apparatus also includes a post-stage extrusion molding device for extrusion molding a raw material tube for a catheter by fitting an outer layer tube of resin thereon, and a take-off unit for taking off the raw material tube. The fore-stage extrusion molding device, braided layer attaching unit, post-stage extrusion molding device, and take-off unit are continuously disposed along the longitudinal direction of the tubes.

Abstract: It is intended to further improve the dimensional accuracy of a catheter molded by a catheter molding apparatus 1. The catheter molding apparatus (1) includes a fore-stage extrusion molding device (12) for extrusion molding an inner layer tube (4) of resin so as to fit a core wire material (3) of metal therein, a braided layer attaching unit (14) for attaching a braided layer (5) made by the braiding of a reinforcing thread (6) to the outer surface of the inner layer tube (4) molded by the fore-stage extrusion molding device (12) and once cooled, thereby molding a braided tube (7), a post-stage extrusion molding device (19) for extrusion molding a raw material tube (2) for a catheter by fitting an outer layer tube (8) of resin thereon, and a take-off unit (21) for taking off the raw material tube (2).