Hydrophilic Coating Polyelectrolyte Non-Ionic Polymer Dry-Out
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices with hydrophilic coatings often lose water and dry out before or during use, leading to reduced lubricity and potential patient discomfort or injury due to increased friction during insertion or removal.
Innovation Solution
A hydrophilic coating formulation incorporating a polyelectrolyte and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer, which when cured and applied to a substrate, provides prolonged lubricity by increasing water uptake and maintaining low friction properties over an extended period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hydrophilic coating is applied to medical devices, then lubricity is improved, but the coating dries out quickly leading to reduced lubricity over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a polyelectrolyte (first polymer component) with a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer (second polymer component) in the coating formulation. This composite structure leverages the water-retention capabilities of the polyelectrolyte network while incorporating the hydrophilic polymer to enhance lubricity. The synergistic interaction between these two different polymer types creates a coating that maintains both low friction and extended water retention, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving good lubricity and preventing quick drying out.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a polyelectrolyte and non-ionic hydrophilic polymer are combined in the coating formulation, then dry-out time is extended, but coating complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by carefully controlling the molecular weight, charge density, and composition ratios of the polyelectrolyte and non-ionic hydrophilic polymer components. By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves extended dry-out time through enhanced water retention capacity without requiring excessively complex processing conditions. The parameter optimization allows the complex multi-component system to be manufactured with reasonable process simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combination of a polyelectrolyte and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer in the coating formulation significantly extends the dry-out time, ensuring the coating remains lubricious for a longer duration, reducing friction and minimizing patient discomfort, as demonstrated by measurements on a Harland FTS5000 Friction Tester.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrophilic coating formulation which when applied to a substrate and cured results in a hydrophilic coating
Implementation Method 2
A hydrophilic surface coating or layer which becomes lubricious after wetting is hereinafter referred to as a hydrophilic coating
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a hydrophilic coating formulation which when cured results in a hydrophilic coating, wherein the hydrophilic coating formulation comprises a polyelectrolyte and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer. The invention further relates to a coating system, a hydrophilic coating, a lubricious coating, use of a polyelectrolyte and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer in a lubricious coating, an article, a medical device or component and a method of forming on a substrate a hydrophilic coating.