POLYOLEFIN CATHETERS
The present disclosure provides catheters comprising a polyolefin-based liner forming an inner surface of the catheter for at least a part of its length; a reinforcing braid disposed in and/or around the polyolefin liner for at least a part of its length; and a polyolefin-based jacket forming an outer surface of the catheter, disposed in and/or around the braid for at least a part of its length. The disclosure further provides methods of making and using such catheters.
1 . A catheter with a proximal end and a distal end defining a length, L, comprising:
a polyolefin-based liner forming an inner surface of the catheter for at least a part of L;
a reinforcing braid disposed in and/or around the polyolefin liner for at least a part of L; and
a polyolefin-based jacket forming an outer surface of the catheter, disposed in and/or around the braid for at least a part of L.
2 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner forms the inner surface of the catheter for the full length of the catheter.
3 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket forms the outer surface of the catheter for the full length of the catheter.
4 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner forms the inner surface of the catheter for less than the full length of the catheter.
5 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket forms the outer surface of the catheter for less than the full length of the catheter.
6 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner consists essentially of one or more polyolefins.
7 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket consists essentially of one or more polyolefins.
8 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the polyolefin-based liner and the polyolefin-based jacket comprises one or more additives.
9 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner has a density that differs from the density of the polyolefin-based jacket.
10 . The catheter of claim 9 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner comprises one or more polyolefin resins that have a density between 0.90 g/cm 3 and 0.97 g/cm 3 .
11 . The catheter of claim 9 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket comprises one or more polyolefin resins that have a density between 0.85 g/cm 3 and 0.96 g/cm 3 .
12 . The catheter of claim 9 , wherein the density of the polyolefin-based jacket is less than or equal to the density of the polyolefin-based liner.
13 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner comprises LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, HMWPE, or UHMWPE or a blend of any two or more thereof.
14 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner has an average wall thickness of less than 0.200 mm.
15 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket comprises VLDPE, ULDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, HMWPE, or UHMWPE or a blend of any two or more thereof.
16 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based liner comprises a blend of one or more polyethylene homopolymers and one or more polyethylene copolymers.
17 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing braid comprises stainless steel or nitinol wires.
18 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing braid comprises a liquid crystal polymer, polypropylene or UHMWPE monofilament, multifilament or yarn.
19 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin-based jacket comprises a blend of one or more polyethylene homopolymers, one or more polyethylene copolymers, and one or more ethylene-propylene copolymers.
20 . The catheter of claim 1 , comprising two or more polyolefin-based jackets, each having a different density and each disposed in and around the braid for at least less than L, wherein the two or more polyolefin-based jackets are joined together.