Medical device with extruded member having helical orientation

• US 20040236310A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Lixiao, Chen, John, Sahatjian, Ronald, Chin, Albert, Wang, (Bruce) Yiqun
• Application Number:
  US10/884,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/06 Rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/335 Multiple annular extrusion nozzles in coaxial arrangement, e.g. for making multi-layered tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/34 Cross-head annular extrusion nozzles, i.e. for simultaneously receiving moulding material and the preform to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/355 Conveyors for extruded articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/14 Twisting for textile fibres D01H
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/005 Oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 Catheters

Abstract

An elongate polymer member having molecular helical orientation formed by rotation immediately after passing through the extrusion head. The elongate polymer member is rotated downstream of the extrusion head in the molten state prior to solidification in order to impart the molecular helical orientation. Rotating the polymer member in the molten state allows the helical orientation to be imparted at the molecular level, and allows for more rotations per lineal foot of extrusion.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising an elongate polymer member made by an extrusion process including the step of rotating the polymer member after extrusion but prior to solidification while the polymer member is still in a molten state to impart a molecular helical orientation to the polymer member.

2. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the elongate polymer member has a surface and a body, and wherein the molecular helical orientation extends through the surface and the body.

3. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the elongate polymer member is made by a co-extrusion process of two or more different polymers.

4. A medical device as in claim 3, wherein the elongate polymer member is made by an intermittent co-extrusion process of two or more different polymers such that a proximal portion of the elongate polymer member comprises a first polymer and a distal portion of the elongate polymer member comprises a second polymer.

5. A medical device as in claim 3, wherein the elongate polymer member is made by a continuous co-extrusion process of two or more different polymers such that the elongate polymer member comprises two or more coextending helically oriented polymers.

6. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the molecular helical orientation comprises 100 rotations per foot or more.

7. A medical device as in claim 6, wherein the molecular helical orientation varies as a function of length of the elongate tubular member to impart variable flexibility.

8. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a guidewire and the elongate polymer member forms a shaft of the guidewire.

9. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a catheter and the elongate polymer member forms a tubular shaft of the catheter.

10. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a balloon catheter and the elongate polymer member forms a balloon of the balloon catheter.

11. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a balloon catheter and the elongate polymer member forms a balloon sleeve of the balloon catheter.

12. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the polymer member consists of a polymer having a melting temperature and a glass transition temperature.

13. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein a first elongate polymer member is a core member of a second elongate polymer member situated around the core member.

14. A medical device as in claim 13, wherein the second elongate polymer member is rotated in a different direction than the first elongate polymer member.

15. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a removable core member and the elongate polymer member forms a shaft of the removable core member.

16. A medical device as in claim 15, wherein the core member consists of a metal wire.

17. A medical device as in claim 15, wherein the core member consists of a composite substrate disposed on the metal wire.

18. A medical device as in claim 1, wherein the molecular helical orientation is formed by rotation immediately after extrusion thereof.