PPA/COC Medical Catheter Construction for Pushability and Delamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical catheters require complex construction techniques due to functional differentiation of components, leading to potential separation and delamination, especially during repeated bending, and often involve high environmental and material loads.
Innovation Solution
A medical catheter with an elongated body comprising a polymer blend of polyphthalamide (PPA) and cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) that provides improved pushability, torqueability, and dimensional stability, replacing structural support members, and incorporating bio-based materials for reduced environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If functional differentiation of components is implemented, then mechanical performance is improved, but device complexity increases and component separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components (structural support member, outer jacket, inner liner) into a single integrated elongated body made of PPA/COC polymer blend. This eliminates component interfaces that cause separation and delamination, while the blended material provides both structural support and flexibility through its inherent material properties rather than through layered construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite polymer material (PPA/COC blend) that combines the stiffness of cyclic olefin copolymer with the flexibility and biodegradability of polyphthalamide. This composite material enables a single-component structure to perform functions previously requiring multiple separate components, reducing construction complexity while maintaining mechanical performance.
2Force
If structural support members are used, then pushability and dimensional stability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and environmental load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the elongated body by using a PPA/COC polymer blend with specific compositional ratios. By adjusting the blend composition, the material achieves optimal stiffness and pushability without requiring separate structural support members, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining mechanical performance.
3Strength
If conventional polymers are used, then mechanical performance is achieved, but environmental load and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating bio-based polymers (polyphthalamide with renewable carbon content) into the elongated body. This compositional change reduces environmental load while maintaining adequate mechanical performance through the inherent properties of the bio-based polymer blend.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes an elongated body. At least a portion of the elongated body includes a polymer blend of a polyphthalamide (PPA) and a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) (PPA/COC). In some medical devices, the COC includes a copolymer of ethylene and norbornene having high stiffness and low moisture uptake, and the PPA includes some amount of renewable carbon content. In some medical devices that include a catheter, a higher stiffness proximal portion of the catheter includes the polymer blend, and a lower stiffness distal portion of the catheter includes an inner liner, an outer jacket, and a structural support member between the inner liner and outer jacket.