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:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Mark T Stewart, Lino Lakes, MN (US);
Kenneth E Cobian, St. Anthony, MN (US);
Michael J Ebert, Fridley, MN (US);
Assignee:
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
128897 ;
Abstract
Polymeric tubing having an outer surface with a reduced coefficient of friction. The outer surface is treated by an exposure to a plasma glow discharge in the presence of an inert gas, and by deposition of a monomer during exposure to the plasma glow discharge for a time sufficient to modify the slip characteristics of the surface of the tube. The tube is preferably exposed to plasma glow discharge for a time sufficient to reduce the coefficient of friction by at least 70%. The tubing may be fabricated of silicone rubber, and the monomer deposited may be N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone.