Polymer blends for torque transmitting catheters

• US 5,387,199 A
• Filed: 03/02/1994
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Shadforth, Nancy, Lieber, Clement, Siman, Jaime E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, CHALIN A
• Application Number:
  US08/204,796
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264-266, 604/280, 604/282, 604/272, 604/93, 604/96, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 424/78.1
• US Class Current: 604/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/049 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. lubricating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/18 Polyesters or polycarbonates according to C08L67/00 - C08L69/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/08 from polyethers

Abstract

Polymer blends having improved torque transmitting properties are disclosed. The polymer blends include polyetherurethane and a concentration of polyetherester sufficient to provide the polymer blend with a 37° C. dynamic torque value greater than 40% of the polymer blend'"'"'s 25° C. dynamic torque value. The polymer blend can be thermally processed to form small diameter tubing suitable for general purpose catheters requiring both a high degree of maneuverability and sufficient resiliency to avoid tissue perforation.

Claims

1. A catheter useful for accessing body cavities during therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures, said catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen, said elongated tubular member formed of a heat extruded homogeneous polymer blend of polyetherurethane and polyetherester, wherein said polymer blend provides the catheter with enhanced torque retention and balanced rebound properties.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherester is present in said polymer blend at a concentration of at least 5 w/w%.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherurethane further includes a first polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of about 65 D at 25°

C., a second polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of about 75 D at 25°

C., and a third polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of about 80 A at 25°

C.

4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein said polymer blend includes from 0 w/w% to about 65 w/w% of said first polyetherurethane, from about 5 w/w% to about 35 w/w% of said second polyetherurethane, and from 0 w/w% to about 15 w/w% of said third polyetherurethane.

5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend further includes a filler of radiopaque material.

6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend further includes additives selected from the group consisting of TiO₂ and pigments.

7. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend includes about 45 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 65 D, about 7.2 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.4 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 6.4 w/w% polyetherester, about 1% TiO₂, and about 28 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material.

8. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend includes inorganic compounds selected from the group consisting of radiopaque filler and pigments.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein said radiopaque filler is BaSO₄.

10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherester is present in said polymer blend at a concentration of from about 5 w/w% to about 45 w/w%.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend includes from about 25 w/w% to about 75 w/w% polyetherurethane, from about 5 w/w% to about 45 w/w% polyetherester, from about 15 w/w% to about 30 w/w% filler of radiopaque material, and about 1 w/w% pigment.

13. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend further includes inorganic compounds selected from the group consisting of radiopaque filler and pigments.

14. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherurethane is present in said polymer blend at a concentration of at least 22.4 w/w%.

15. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherurethane is present in said polymer blend at a concentration of from about 25 w/w% to about 75 w/w%.

16. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polyetherester has a Shore hardness of about 55 D at 25°

C.

17. The catheter of claim 5 wherein said radiopaque filler is BaSO₄.

18. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend includes about 16.0 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.9 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 39.9 w/w% polyetherester having a hardness of about 55 D, about 0.8% TiO₂, about 30 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material, and about 0.4% pigment.

19. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend includes about 9.5 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.9 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 46.4 w/w% polyetherester having a hardness of about 55 D, about 0.8% TiO₂, about 30 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material, and about 0.4% pigment.

12. A catheter having improved maneuverability and torque transmitting properties at 25°

C. and 37°

C., said catheter comprising;

an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen, said elongated tubular member formed of a thermoplastic homogenous blend of polyetherurethane and polyetherester, said blend having from about 5 w/w% to about 45 w/w% polyetherester, from about 0 w/w% to about 45 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 65 D, from about 7.2 w/w% to about 16 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, and from about 12.4 w/w% to about 12.9 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A or 40 D.

20. A catheter useful for accessing body cavities during therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures, said catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen, said elongated tubular member formed of a heat extruded homogeneous polymer blend of polyetherurethanes and polyetherester, said blend having about 45 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 65 D, about 7.2 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.4 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 6.4 w/w% polyetherester having a hardness of about 55 D, about 1% TiO₂, and about 28 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material.

21. A catheter useful for accessing body cavities during therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures, said catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen, said elongated tubular member formed of a heat extruded homogeneous polymer blend of polyetherurethanes and polyetherester, said blend having about 16 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.9 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 39.9 w/w% polyetherester having a hardness of about 55 D, about 1.2% TiO₂, and about 30 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material.

22. A catheter useful for accessing body cavities during therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures, said catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen, said elongated tubular member formed of a heat extruded homogeneous polymer blend of polyetherurethanes and polyetherester, said blend having about 9.5 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 75 D, about 12.9 w/w% polyetherurethane having a Shore hardness of 80 A, about 46.4 w/w% polyetherester having a hardness of about 55 D, about 1.2% TiO₂, and about 30 w/w% BaSO₄ radiopaque material.