Apparatus for reducing friction on polymeric surfaces

• US 6,101,973 A
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cobian, Kenneth E., Stewart, Mark T., Ebert, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Thi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEJANDRO MULERO, LUZ L
• Application Number:
  US09/262,632
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 118/723 R, 118/723 E, 118/723 ER, 118/723 I, 118/723 IR, 118/723 AN, 118/718, 118/719, 156/345, 204/298.25, 204/298.35
• US Class Current: 118/723.0ER
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/141 Plasticizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 33/0088 by grafting of a monomer onto the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/62 Plasma-deposition of organic layers plasma deposition in general C23C14/00, C23C16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/144 of polymeric substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/103 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/142 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/00 Tubular articles B29L2024/00 takes precedence ; catheters B29L2031/7542
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/0245 by etching with a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/045 Coating cavities or hollow spaces, e.g. interior of tubes; Infiltration of porous substrates
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/30 Deposition of compounds, mixtures or solid solutions, e.g. borides, carbides, nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/505 using radio frequency discharges
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/32082 Radio frequency generated discharge H01J37/32357, H01J37/32366, H01J37/32394 and H01J37/32403 take precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for improving slip characteristics on the surface of a polymeric material, such as an outer surface, inner surface, or both of polymeric tubing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for surface treating polymeric tubing comprising:

a pre-treatment reactor chamber comprising;

a first plurality of radio frequency electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes is a ground electrode; and

a first generally tubular member in proximity to the first plurality of electrodes; and

a monomer deposition zone comprising;

a first plurality of radio frequency electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes is a ground electrode;

a second generally tubular member in proximity to the first plurality of electrodes; and

a monomer source operatively connected to the second generally tubular member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a transition zone between the pre-treatment reactor chamber and the monomer deposition reactor chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an inner diameter surface treatment reactor chamber comprising;

a third plurality of radio frequency electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes is a ground electrode; and

a third generally tubular member in proximity to the third plurality of electrodes, wherein the third generally tubular member has an inside diameter of about 2% to about 7% greater than an outside diameter of the polymeric tubing;

wherein the pre-treatment reactor chamber, the monomer deposition reactor chamber and the inner diameter surface treatment reactor chamber are operatively connected via the first generally tubular member, the second generally tubular member and the third generally tubular member, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a transition zone between the pre-treatment reactor chamber and the inner surface reactor chamber reactor chamber.