Enhancing Bond Strength Of Medical Devices

A medical device comprising:

• a tubing comprising:
• a polymeric blend consisting of a base polymeric formulation consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) comprising a total polyethylene and/or polypropylene in an amount of at least 60 mol %, or combinations thereof, and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide);
• and
• an additive comprising a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO copolymer) according to Formula (I):
• wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, vinylic substituted alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or vinylic substituted hydrocarbyl group;
• the molar value of m is in the range from 2 to 40 mole percent;
• the molar value of n is in the range from 60 to 98 mole percent;
• and p is in the range from 5 to 500 ethylene oxide units;
• wherein the PE-g-PEO copolymer is present in the blend in an amount in the range of 0.01 to 2.5% by weight of the blend;
• and
• a connector bonded to the tubing;
• wherein the PE-g-PEO copolymer is effective to enhance solvent bonding of the tubing to the connector.

A medical tubing manufactured by a process comprising:

• melting a polymeric base consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) comprising a total polyethylene and/or polypropylene in an amount of at least 60 mol %, or combinations thereof, and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide) at a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 300° C. to form a melted polymeric base;
• adding an additive comprising a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO copolymer) to the melted polymeric base to form a blend the PE-g-PEO copolymer being present in the blend in an amount in the range of 0.01 to 2.5% by weight of the blend;
• mixing the blend for a time period in the range of 15 seconds to 90 seconds;
• and
• melt extruding the blend to form the tubing.

A method of making a medical device comprising:

• obtaining a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO copolymer);
• combining the PE-g-PEO copolymer with a base polymeric formulation comprising at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene or propylene and excluding free poly(ethylene oxide) to form a blend, the PE-g-PEO copolymer being present in the blend in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the blend;
• forming a tubing from the blend;
• and
• bonding the tubing to a connector in the presence of a solvent to form the medical device;
• wherein the PE-g-PEO copolymer is effective to enhance bonding of the tubing to a connector.

The method of claim 16, wherein ethylene oxide ring-opening polymerization of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer having from 10 to 40 weight percent of vinyl acetate is used to form the PE-g-PEO, which is according to Formula (I):

• wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, vinylic substituted alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or vinylic substituted hydrocarbyl group;
• the molar value of m is in the range from 2 to 40 mole percent;
• the molar value of n is in the range from 60 to 98 mole percent;
• and p is in the range from 5 to 500 ethylene oxide units.