Enhancing Bond Strength Of Medical Devices

Abstract

Components of medical devices include polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymers (PE-g-PEO) in their base polymer formulations. The base polymeric formulations comprise at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene. These components are suitable for solvent-bonding with other components and enhance bond strength of the medical devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tubing for a medical device formed from a blend comprising:
 a base polymeric formulation comprising at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene or propylene and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide); and   an additive comprising a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO);   the PE-g-PEO being present in the blend in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the blend.   
     
     
         2 . The tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the PE-g-PEO is according to Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, vinylic substituted alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or vinylic substituted hydrocarbyl group; the molar value of m is in the range from 2 to 40 mole percent; the molar value of n is in the range from 60 to 98 mole percent; and p is in the range from 5 to 500 ethylene oxide units. 
       
     
     
         3 . The tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, a polyethylene-polypropylene co-polymer, a polyethylene- and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises a co-polymer of polyethylene and polypropylene. 
     
     
         5 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the polyethylene-and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) comprises at least 60 mol % total polyethylene and/or polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the PE-g-PEO is a product of ethylene oxide ring-opening polymerization of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer having from 10 to 40 weight percent of vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         7 . The tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the PE-g-PEO has a dispersity index in the range of 2 to 10. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device comprising:
 a tubing comprising a polymeric blend comprising a base polymeric formulation comprising at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene or propylene and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide), and an additive comprising a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO) according to Formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, vinylic substituted alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or vinylic substituted hydrocarbyl group; 
         the molar value of m is in the range from 2 to 40 mole percent; the molar value of n is in the range from 60 to 98 mole percent; and p is in the range from 5 to 500 ethylene oxide units; 
         wherein the PE-g-PEO is present in the blend in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the blend; and 
         a connector bonded to the tubing; 
         wherein the PE-g-PEO is effective to enhance bonding of the tubing to a connector. 
       
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, a polyethylene-polypropylene co-polymer, a polyethylene- and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises a co-polymer of polyethylene and polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the polyethylene-and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) comprises at least 60 mol % polyethylene and/or polypropylene. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the PE-g-PEO is a product of ethylene oxide ring-opening polymerization of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer having from 10 to 40 weight percent of vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the connector comprises a polar material. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the polar material selected from the group consisting of: poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), polycarbonate (PC), and methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS). 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the connector is solvent-bonded to the tubing. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a medical device comprising:
 obtaining a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO);   combining the PE-g-PEO with a base polymeric formulation comprising at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene or propylene and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide) to form a blend, the PE-g-PEO being present in the blend in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the blend;   forming a tubing from the blend; and   bonding the tubing to a connector in the presence of a solvent to form the medical device;   wherein the PE-g-PEO is effective to enhance bonding of the tubing to a connector.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein ethylene oxide ring-opening polymerization of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer having from 10 to 40 weight percent of vinyl acetate is used to form the PE-g-PEO, which is according to Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, vinylic substituted alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or vinylic substituted hydrocarbyl group; the molar value of m is in the range from 2 to 40 mole percent; the molar value of n is in the range from 60 to 98 mole percent; and p is in the range from 5 to 500 ethylene oxide units. 
       
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, a polyethylene-polypropylene co-polymer, a polyethylene- and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base polymeric formulation comprises a co-polymer of polyethylene and polypropylene. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polyethylene-and/or polypropylene-containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) comprises at least 60 mol % polyethylene and/or polypropylene.