The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 15, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Ziyun Chen, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Tai C Cheng, Mounain View, CA (US);
Jeong S Lee, Diamond Bar, CA (US);
Ketan P Muni, San Jose, CA (US);
Udayan Patel, San Jose, CA (US);
Robert P Saltman, Redwood City, CA (US);
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
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.