CANNULA AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND USE

A cannula (372) having reinforced sections (386) and nonreinforced sections (388), the nonreinforced sections (388) having openings (390) communicating with the lumen of the cannula (372). The nonreinforced sections (388) are plain tubing and the reinforced sections (386) are formed by winding a coated elongate member (207) in a helical manner around a mandrel (213). The coated elongate member (207) preferably has a square cross-sectional shape so that adjacent portions of the coated elongate member (207) engage one another when the coated elongate member (207) is wound around the mandrel (213). The coated elongate member (207) is then heated so that the coating (229, 231) on adjacent portions of the coated elongate member (207) fuses together to form an integral structure. Another layer of material (225) may be provided on the radially inner or outer wall of the coated elongate member. The resulting tubular body (205) is reinforced by the elongate member (207) which is encased in the fused coating (229, 231). The tubular body (205) is cut into sections which are fused to the plain tubing sections (388) to form the cannula.