Polymeric tubes with controlled orientation
AssigneeZeus Co., Ltd.
InventorsJames M. Lindsey, John Richard Campanelli, Elizabeth A. Foley, Bruce L. Anneaux, Justin A. Marro
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Abstract
Methods for preparing oriented polymer tubes, such as biodegradable polymer tubes suitable for in vivo use, are provided herein. The disclosed methods provide alternatives to the typical extrusion/expansion methods by which oriented polymeric tubes for such uses are commonly produced. Advantageously, the disclosed methods can provide more homogeneous molecular orientation of crystallizable polymers within the tube walls, which can endow such polymeric tubes with enhanced strength (e.g., resistance to compression) and toughness.
Claims20
A multilayered tube, comprising:
- at least one stretched polymeric material layer comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), poly(D-lactide) (PDLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(para-dioxanone) (PDO), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(hydroxyvalerate), poly(tetramethyl carbonate), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), and copolymers, derivatives and combinations thereof;
- and
- at least one adhesive material layer comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(D,L-lactide), poly(L-lactide)-co-ε-caprolactone), poly(L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate), poly(ε-caprolactone-co-trimethylene carbonate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(L-lactide-co-poly(ethylene glycol)), and copolymers, derivatives and combinations thereof, wherein:
- the at least one stretched polymeric material layer exhibits at least partial molecular orientation;
- the at least one stretched polymeric material layer and the adhesive material layer are comprised in different layers of the tube;
- the at least one adhesive material layer adheres adjacent layers of the at least one stretched polymeric material layer to itself or to other layers within the multilayered tube;
- the multilayer tube has an orientation profile that is substantially consistent throughout a wall of the multilayered tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.