Medical Instrument Lubricating Layer Cross-Linking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical instruments, such as catheters and guide wires, require improved lubricity and durability to reduce tissue damage and maintain ease of use, especially in complex and narrow body areas, where existing hydrophilic polymer coatings face challenges in balancing lubricity and durability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a block copolymer with a reactive monomer having an epoxy group and a hydrophilic monomer, combined with an alkylammonium salt, is applied to the base layer, forming a lubricating layer that is cross-linked and polymerized to create a network structure, enhancing sliding durability and maintaining lubricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hydrophilic polymer coating is applied to improve lubricity, then surface lubricity is improved, but durability against abrasion and scratch deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is segmented into multiple functional layers: a base layer containing the hydrophilic polymer for lubricity, and a cross-linked surface layer for durability. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure combining hydrophilic polymer with cross-linked components. The composite consists of the lubricating hydrophilic polymer phase and a cross-linked network phase that provides mechanical strength and abrasion resistance, achieving both lubricity and durability simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the medical instrument size and diameter are reduced to improve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but lubricity maintainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating structure provides local quality enhancement at the surface level. The cross-linked surface layer is specifically designed to maintain lubricity under local friction and contact conditions, while the overall instrument maintains flexibility through its core structure. This local reinforcement at the surface does not compromise the global flexibility of the instrument.
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 method produces a medical instrument with excellent sliding durability and surface lubricity maintainability, allowing for prolonged use without significant friction or damage, even in complex body areas.
Implementation Method 1
the epoxy group of the block copolymer can be cross-linked by a heating operation, and thereby the surface lubricating layer that is relatively difficult to peel off can be formed
Implementation Method 2
a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer is dissolved in a solvent in which a base of the medical instrument swells to produce a polymer solution, the base of the medical instrument is immersed in this polymer solution to swell
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for producing a medical instrument having a lubricating layer (a coating layer) exhibiting excellent durability (particularly, sliding durability). The method for producing a medical instrument is a method for producing a medical instrument having a base layer, and a lubricating layer that is carried on at least a part of the base layer. The method for producing a medical instrument also includes applying, to the base layer, a solution containing a block copolymer having a structural unit (A) derived from a reactive monomer having an epoxy group and a structural unit (B) derived from a hydrophilic monomer, an alkylammonium salt having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and a solvent; and washing off the solution applied to the base layer.