CA2933486C

Water disintegrable flushable catheter with a hydrophilic coating

Abstract

This is a water disintegrable, flushable catheter that will dissolve or biodegrade in water. It is coated with a hydrophilic coating and will achieve lubricity values typical of a hydrophilic catheter. The catheter may be formed of a bi-layer tube that has a biodegradable outer layer such as polylactic acid and a purely water disintegrable inner layer, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The outer layer will support the hydrophilic coating even when it's wetted and thus acts as a stable primer layer for hydrophilic style coatings. The outer layer bonds well to the water disintegrable inner layer but also allows a hydrophilic coating to be applied on top. The outer layer acts as a temporary water barrier. This water barrier allows the hydrophilic coating to be hydrated prior to use but prevents water molecules from attacking the PVOH inner layer. Alternatively, a hydrophilic coating that bonds to either the tubing directly or a via a primer layer but unlike typical hydrophilic coatings the coating is pre- activated by organic activation agents other than water and thus the catheter does not break down in the packaging or sterilization

CA2933486C, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 1

Term

8.2 yearsleft in the term

Expires 10 December 2034.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Today
  5. Expires

9 claims: 8 independent, 1 dependent

  1. 1
    A flushable urinary catheter comprising:a bi-layer tube that has a water disintegrable inner layer and a biodegradable outer layer, wherein the outer layer dissolves at a slower rate than the inner layer;and a hydrophilic coating on the outer layer.
  2. 3
    The flushable urinary catheter of claims 1 or 2 wherein the inner layer is made of PVOH.
  3. 4
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein, the outer layer is made of a material that degrades via hydrolysis.
  4. 5
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the outer layer is made of a material that degrades via dissolution.
  5. 6
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the outer layer bonds well to the inner layer.
  6. 7
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein the outer layer acts as a stable primer layer for the hydrophilic coating.
  7. 8
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 7, wherein the outer layer acts as a temporary water barrier that allows the hydrophilic coating to be hydrated but prevents water molecules attacking the inner layer.
  8. 9
    The flushable urinary catheter of any one of claims 1 - 8, further comprising at least one groove formed on an outer surface of the outer layer.