Anti-microbial activity through a protective coating on medical articles
Medical articles include a tube prepared from a polymer composition containing one or more extractable components. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube contains an anti-microbial layer. A transparent vapor-deposited coating of a barrier polymer derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer covers the exterior surface of the tube. The barrier coating reduces the extraction of extractable component(s) from the tube, but permits the anti-microbial to pass through the barrier layer and provide anti-microbial activity on the barrier surface.
1 . A medical article comprising:
a tube with an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising a polymer composition containing one or more extractable components, and wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube contains an anti-microbial; and
a transparent vapor-deposited coating of a barrier polymer derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer covering at least a portion of at least the exterior surface of the tube, such that the vapor-deposited coating reduces the extraction of extractable component(s) from the tube, and
wherein the vapor-deposited coating has at least one crack, and
wherein the anti-microbial is capable of passing through or being exposed by the at least one crack of the vapor-deposited coating so as to provide anti-microbial activity.
2 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition containing one or more extractable components comprises:
plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
plasticized PVC copolymers;
plasticized polyurethane; or
polysiloxane containing unreacted cyclic siloxane, catalyst residue, plasticizer, tackifier, or
a combination thereof.
3 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial comprises benzalkonium chloride, copper, silver, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine gluconate, or fatty acid monoesters.
4 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-deposited coating covers at least a portion of the interior surface of the tube.
5 . The medical article of claim 1 , further comprising a discontinuous or continuous layer on the exterior surface of the tube, wherein the discontinuous or continuous layer comprises a graphic layer.
6 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-deposited coating comprises parylene.
7 . The medical article of claim 6 , wherein parylene comprises parylene N, parylene C, parylene D, or parylene HT.
8 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-deposited coating has a thickness of from 0.2-10 micrometers.
9 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-deposited coating has a thickness of from 1-5 micrometers.
10 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition containing one or more extractable components has a thickness of from 0.1-7 millimeters.
11 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises tubing for a stethoscope.
12 . The medical article of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-deposited coating comprises a copolymer of parylene and at least one (meth)acrylate.
13 . The medical article of claim 12 , wherein the at least one (meth)acrylate comprises at least one C 3 -C 18 alkyl (meth)acrylate.
14 . A method of preparing a medical article comprising:
providing a tube with an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising a polymer composition containing one or more extractable components;
disposing an anti-microbial on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube; and
vapor coating a barrier polymer derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer onto at least a portion of at least the exterior surface of the tube to form a vapor-deposited coating that has at least one crack, and wherein the anti-microbial is capable of passing through or being exposed by the at least one crack of the vapor-deposited coating so as to provide anti-microbial activity.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein disposing an anti-microbial on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube comprises soaking, dipping, wiping, coating, printing, or spraying.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein disposing an anti-microbial on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube comprises soaking the tube in a solution of an anti-microbial in a solvent.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the anti-microbial comprises benzalkonium chloride, copper, silver, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine gluconate, fatty acid monoesters.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein vapor coating a barrier polymer onto at least a portion of at least the exterior surface of the tube comprises:
placing the tube in a deposition chamber;
applying a vacuum to the deposition chamber;
heating a precursor material to volatize at least a portion of it; and
introducing the volatilized precursor material into the deposition chamber, wherein the precursor material comprises parylene or a mixture of parylene
and at least one (meth)acrylate.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the vapor coating of the barrier polymer has a thickness of from 0.2-10 micrometers.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tube comprises tubing for a stethoscope.