Patent ID: 8841354

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a catheter comprising a hydrophilic gel, the method comprising the steps of a) combining a polymeric photoinitiator of the general formula (I), R 1 (A 1 ) r -(R 2 (A 2 ) m -O) o —(R 3 (A 3 ) n -O) p —R 4 (A 4 ) s (I) wherein R 2 is —CH 2 CH 2 —, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by A 2 , R 3 is —CH 2 CH 2 —, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by A 3 , R 1 =OH, R 4 =H, o and p are each a real number from 0-5000 provided that o+p>0, m=1 and n=0, r and s are each 0, and A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are identical or different non-cleavable photoinitiator moieties linked to R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , respectively, via a spacer group selected from alkylene ethers; with one or more gel-forming polymers and/or gel-forming monomers to form a matrix composition, b) curing the matrix composition obtained in step a) by exposing it to UV radiation, c) exposing the matrix composition to a swelling medium, and d) incorporating the hydrophilic gel/matrix composition into a catheter, wherein steps b) and c) may take place in any order, provided that, if step d) is carried out first, step b) takes place before step c).