Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Ziyun Chen

Ketan P Muni

Udayan G Patel

Tai Chun Cheng

Robert P Saltman

Jeong Soo Lee

A combination of polymeric components provides desired characteristics in forming medical instruments such as catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters. For example, a balloon material is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. Where the first two components are generally incompatible, the balloon material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together.

Polymer blends for use in making medical devices including catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters

A combination of polymeric components provides desired characteristics in forming medical instruments such as catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters. For example, a balloon material is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. Where the first two components are generally incompatible, the balloon material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together. The first polymeric component can be a branched or straight chain polyamide having a molecular weight of at least about 5000, or a polyester prepared from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 14 carbon atoms or aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol having the formula HO(CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol. The second polymeric component can be a polyolefin, an ethylene copolymer, a polyester block copolymer, or a polyamide block copolymer. The third polymeric component is preferably an ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where E is ethylene; X is an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms; and Y is an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with the first polymeric component. The polymeric blend can be irradiated to enhance the properties of the balloon material, including significantly increasing burst pressures.

Polymer blends for use in making medical devices including catheters and

A catheter and/or balloon for a medical catheter is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. The polymeric material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together. The first polymeric component can be a polyester or a polyamide, and the second polymeric component can be a polyolefin, or an ethylene copolymer. The third polymeric component is preferably an ethylene copolymer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with the first polymeric component. The polymeric material forming the balloon or catheter also can include a catalyst to catalyze a reaction between the compatibilizing ethylene copolymer and the second polymer component. The second, softening polymeric component can also include a silane coupling agent, to provide a reactive softening copolymer that bonds with the first strong polymeric component, to provide increased flexibility of catheters and balloons formed from the polymeric components. The properties of the balloon and catheter formed from the polymeric material can be enhanced by crosslinking by irradiation of the polymeric material.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Ziyun Chen