Rotational molding of medical articles

• US 6,602,452 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: McGhan Medical Corporation (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schuessler, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Staicovici, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US09/908,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 264/301, 264/302, 264/304, 264/310, 264/311, 264/219, 264/220, 264/225, 264/226, 264/338, 264/102, 264/139, 264/255
• US Class Current: 264/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3007 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of elastic material, e.g. of elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/004 Using a positive or negative model, e.g. moulds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1029 Production methods of the balloon members, e.g. blow-moulding, extruding, deposition or by wrapping a plurality of layers of balloon material around a mandril
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0038 with sealing means or the like seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/58 Applying the releasing agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/68 Release sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/003 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/06 about two or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/38 Moulds, cores or other substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/42 Removing articles from moulds, cores or other substrates B29C33/444 and B29C37/0017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/50 Shaping under special conditions, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/06 : Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/812 : Venting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 : Foam or porous material containing

Abstract

A system and method for molding the shell of a medical device or other molded article is provided. The system includes a multi-axis rotational molding machine in which a mold is mounted. The mold has a cavity in the shape of the article to be molded. The mold seals to hold a vacuum. In operation, silicone or other molding material is inserted into the mold, vacuum is applied to the mold, the mold is rotated about at least two axes and a molding material coats the inside walls of the mold to form the shell or other desired article. A rotationally molded medical article is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for molding a medical article comprising the steps of:

inserting a liner material into a cavity within a mold;

rotating said liner material in said mold about at least two axes to uniformly coat the interior of said mold cavity with said liner material;

inserting a molding material into said cavity;

rotating said molding material in said mold about at least two axes to coat the interior of said liner material within said mold cavity with said molding material; and

separating said liner material from said molding material to form the medical article.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

applying a vacuum to said mold.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said liner material coats the interior of said mold cavity thereby masking any surface irregularities.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said liner material is a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and fluoropolymer.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said liner material is a thermoset selected from the group consisting of polyester resin, polyurethane and epoxy.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said molding material is a room temperature acetoxy-cured silicone dispersion in a solvent.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said molding material is a platinum catalyzed heat-cured silicone dispersion in a solvent.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said liner material is separated from said molding material by dissolving said liner material.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said liner material is separated from said molding material by melting said liner material.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said liner material is separated from said molding material by burning said liner material.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said liner material is separated from said molding material by peeling said liner material from said molding material.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the medical article from the mold through an opening in the mold left by a sprue.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting a filler material into said mold cavity.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of curing said filler material.