Method for sterilizing a substrate having a hydrophilic coating and sterilized substrates

1. A method for sterilizing a medical device comprising a substrate having a hydrophilic coating, said method comprising:

contacting the hydrophilic coating of the substrate with a wetting fluid containing one or more non-polymeric polyols, the hydrophilic coating including a hydrophilic polymer and low molecular diacrylate; and

sterilizing the medical device by applying a sufficient amount of radiation while the device is in contact with the wetting fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical device comprises a urinary catheter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyols comprises one or more of Glycerol, Erythritol, Threitol, Arabitol, Xylitol, Adonitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Galactitol, Fucitol, Iditol, Inositol, Volemitol, Isomalt, Maltitol, Lactitol, Maltotriitol, and Maltotetraitol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more non-polymer polyols comprises Glycerol.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyols is between about 5 wt % and about 50 wt % of the wetting fluid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyols is between about 10 wt % and about 20 wt % of the wetting fluid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyols is about 5 wt % of the wetting fluid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular diacrylate comprises polyethylene glycol diacrylate.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the number average molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol diacrylate is less than about 600.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the polyethylene glycol diacrylate has a number average molecular weight between about 200 and about 600.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein hydrophilic coating comprises about 80 wt % to about 95.5 wt % hydrophilic polymer and about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt % polyethylene glycol diacrylate.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the hydrophilic coating comprises about 94 wt % to about 98 wt % hydrophilic polymer and about 2 wt % to about 6 wt % polyethylene glycol diacrylate.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the hydrophilic coating comprises a polyethylene glycol diacrylate as a partially immiscible or an immiscible component.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the polyethylene glycol diacrylate comprises a discrete, continuous or bi-continuous phase within the coating.

15. A medical device assembly comprising:

a package defining a cavity;

a medical device including a hydrophilic coating located within the cavity, the hydrophilic coating including a hydrophilic polymer and low molecular diacrylate; and

a wetting fluid comprising one or more non-polymeric polyols located within the cavity and in contact with the hydrophilic coating.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the medical device comprises a urinary catheter.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyols comprises one or more of Glycerol, Erythritol, Threitol, Arabitol, Xylitol, Adonitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Galactitol, Fucitol, Iditol, Inositol, Volemitol, Isomalt, Maltitol, Lactitol, Maltotriitol, and Maltotetraitol.

18. A method of forming an irradiation sterilized urinary catheter, comprising:

applying a hydrophilic coating to an untreated surface of a urinary catheter;

contacting the hydrophilic coating of the urinary catheter with a wetting fluid containing one or more non-polymeric polyol; and

sterilizing the urinary catheter by applying a sufficient amount of radiation while the urinary catheter is in contact with the wetting fluid.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the hydrophilic coating comprises a hydrophilic polymer and a low-molecular weight PEGDA.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more non-polymeric polyol comprises one or more of Glycerol, Erythritol, Threitol, Arabitol, Xylitol, Adonitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Galactitol, Fucitol, Iditol, Inositol, Volemitol, Isomalt, Maltitol, Lactitol, Maltotriitol, and Maltotetraitol.