Patent ID: 8337968
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: A61L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sterile medical catheter or balloon at least a portion of which is formed from thermoplastic polymer material wherein: a) the thermoplastic polymer material comprises at least one radiation sensitive polymer characterized by an aromatic content of from 0 to about 20% by weight which is a member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyamides, aliphatic polyamide block copolymers, copolymers formed from aliphatic blocks and aliphatic polyester blocks, ethylene-alpha olefin copolymers, ionomer modified polyolefins, butyl rubbers, aliphatic polyesters, aliphatic polyurethanes and mixtures thereof and an aromatic protectant polymer which protects against degradation caused by exposure to high energy radiation, the aromatic protectant polymer having an aromatic content of at least 5% by weight greater than the aromatic content of the radiation sensitive polymer and which is a member selected from the group consisting polyphenylene oxides, aromatic polyurethanes, aromatic polyureas, aromatic polyamides, block copolymers of aromatic polyamides, and mixtures thereof, and b) the catheter or balloon has been sterilized with high energy radiation.