Polymer blends for use in making medical devices including catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters

A catheter material formed from polymeric components, comprising:

• about 10-95% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyesters and polyamides, said polyesters being prepared from the group of dicarboxylic acids selected from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having the formula HO(CH2)nOH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol, and said polyamides being branched or straight chain polyamides having a molecular weight of at least 5000;
• about 5-90% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymer component having a Shore hardness less than 75 D, selected from the group consisting of polyolefins having a density less than 0.93, ethylene copolymers, polyester block copolymers, and polyamide block copolymers;
• and
• less than about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.

A balloon material formed from a blend composition of polymeric components, comprising:

• about 10-95% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyesters and polyamides, said polyesters being prepared from the group of dicarboxylic acids selected from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having the formula HO(CH2)nOH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol, and said polyamides being branched or straight chain polyamides having a molecular weight of at least 5000;
• about 5-90% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymer component having a Shore hardness less than 75 D, selected from the group consisting of polyolefins having a density less than 0.93, ethylene copolymers, polyester block copolymers, and polyamide block copolymers;
• and
• less than about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.

A dilatation catheter balloon material formed from a blend composition of polymeric components, comprising:

• about 60-77% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-terephthalate, polybutylene-terephthalate, glycol modified polyethylene-terephthalate, 1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate/isophthalate copolymer, linear homopolymer esters derived from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and glycols of the general formula HO(CH2)nOH where n is an integer from 2 to 10;
• about 23-40% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymeric component comprising an ethylene copolymer containing ethylene and at least one other monomer selected from the group consisting of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomers, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide;
• and
• from about 0.25% to about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.

A radiation cross-linked polymeric blend, comprising:

• about 10-95% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyesters, said polyesters being prepared from the group of dicarboxylic acids selected from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having the formula HO(CH2)nOH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol;
• about 5-90% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymer component having a Shore hardness less than 75 D, selected from the group consisting of polyolefins having a density less than 0.93, ethylene copolymers, and polyester block copolymers;
• and
• less than about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.

A catheter material formed from a radiation cross-linked polymeric blend, comprising:

• about 10-95% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyesters, said polyesters being prepared from the group of dicarboxylic acids selected from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having the formula HO(CH2)nOH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol;
• about 5-90% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymer component having a Shore hardness less than 75 D, selected from the group consisting of polyolefins having a density less than 0.93, ethylene copolymers, and polyester block copolymers;
• and
• less than about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.

A balloon material formed from a radiation cross-linked polymeric blend, comprising:

• about 10-95% by weight of the total blend composition of a first polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyesters, said polyesters being prepared from the group of dicarboxylic acids selected from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having the formula HO(CH2)nOH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol;
• about 5-90% by weight of the total blend composition of a second polymer component having a Shore hardness less than 75 D, selected from the group consisting of polyolefins having a density less than 0.93, ethylene copolymers, and polyester block copolymers;
• and
• less than about 2.5% by weight of the total blend composition of a compatibilizing ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where
• E is ethylene,
• X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms, and
• Y is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with said first polymeric component.