Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assembling a medical device using solvent bonding techniques. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a first article of a polymer composition having (a) a first component of a homopolymer or copolymer obtained using monomers of cyclic olefin or a bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon, the first component being present in an amount from about 30% to about 100% by weight of the composition and (b) a second component from 0-70% by weight of the composition; (2) providing a second article of a material selected from the group of low crystallinity polymers; (3) applying a solvent to one of the first article or the second article to define an interface area; and (4) bonding the first article to the second article along the interface area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for using a polymeric cement to assemble medical devices. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a first article of a low crystallinity polymer; (2) providing a second article of a low crystallinity polymer; (3) providing a cement composition having a first component of a cyclic olefin containing polymer or a bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon containing polymer and a second component of an effective amount of a solvent having a solubility parameter of less than about 20 (MPa)1/2; applying the cement composition to one of the first and second articles to define a bonding area; and (4) attaching the first article to the second article along the bonding area to fixedly attach the first article to the second article.

Abstract: A device and method for inactivating pathogens in therapeutic fluids with sterilizing radiation in a continuous thin fluid flow arrangement that exhibits radiation dose uniformity for fluids having high optical densities. Radiation dose uniformity is achieved in part through a “carrying” mechanism that moves or carries the fluid, thereby eliminating a channel flow velocity profile where flow volumes near the channel walls run the risk of overexposure to the radiation due to very large residence times within the channel. The device comprises a relatively flat belt chamber (22) connected to a fluid flow through an inlet (24) and an outlet (26) on the belt chamber (22). The belt chamber (22) has a top surface (28) and a bottom surface (30). A radiation permeable plate (32) is disposed adjacent the top surface (28) of the belt chamber (22) and is in contact with the belt chamber (22). A radiation source (42) is provided adjacent to the plate (32) adjacent to a side opposite the belt chamber (22).

Abstract: A device and method for inactivating pathogens in therapeutic fluids with sterilizing radiation in a continuous flow arrangement while exhibiting radiation dose uniformity and narrow residence time distribution of the fluid within the device. The device (10) comprises a radiation permeable cylindrical tube (12) having a concentric cylindrical rotor (14) disposed therein, thereby providing a thin gap (16) therebetween. A top plate (18) having a fluid outlet (26) and a bottom plate (20) having a fluid inlet (24) seal the cylindrical tube (12). The inlet (24) and outlet (26) are both in fluid communication with the thin gap (16). A rotor shaft (36) is disposed axially through the cylindrical rotor (14) and is connected to a motor (30). A pump provides fluid flow through the device (10). A radiation source provides sterilizing radiation to the fluid through the cylindrical tube (12).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a medical tubing with a pump for administering measured amounts of a beneficial fluid over time to a patient. The method includes the steps of providing a material selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymers and ethylene copolymers, wherein the ethylene copolymers are obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with a comonomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl olefins, alkyl esters of a carboxylic acid and lower alkene esters of a carboxylic acid, or blends thereof; providing an extruder with an extrusion die; extruding the material into a medical tubing; providing a surface modifier solution; preheating the surface modifier solution to a temperature within the range of 30-95° C.; applying the preheated solution onto the tubing at it exits the extrusion die when the tubing is in a molten state or a semi-molten state; and pumping fluid through the tubing with the pump.

Abstract: A polymer blend for fabricating medical products having a first 1,2 polybutadiene present from about 1% to about 99% by weight of the blend and having a first melting point temperature; and a second 1,2 polybutadiene present from about 1% to about 99% by weight of the blend and having a second melting point temperature higher than the first melting point temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a medical tubing. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a material selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymers and ethylene copolymers, wherein the ethylene copolymers are obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with a comonomer selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl olefins, lower alkyl esters of a carboxylic acid and lower alkene esters of a carboxylic acid, the lower alkyl and lower alkene each have from 3-18 carbons, or blends thereof; (2) providing an extruder with an extrusion die; (3) extruding the material into a medical tubing; (4) providing a surface modifier solution; (5) preheating the surface modifier solution to a temperature within the range of 50-80° C.; and (6) applying the preheated solution onto the tubing at it exits the extrusion die when the tubing is in a molten state or a semi-molten state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple layer thermoplastic structure of a (1) skin layer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc, and ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc blended with an ethylene and a-olefin copolymers having a density less than about 0.930 g/cc, the skin layer having a thickness of greater than about 3.0 mils; (2) a radio frequency susceptible layer adhered to the skin layer, the radio frequency susceptible layer having a dielectric loss greater than 0.05 at 1-60 MHz and at temperatures of ambient to 250° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flowable material container closure assembly having a port tube and a membrane tube.

Abstract: Multiple component polymer compositions for fabrication into articles. In particular, polymeric compositions comprising a heat resistant polymer; a radio frequency (“RF”) susceptible polymer; and a compatibilizing polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer composition having: a first component selected from homopolymers and copolymers of cyclic olefin containing polymers and bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon containing polymers, the first component being present in an amount from about 1-99% by weight of the composition; and a second component is selected from homopolymers and copolymers of a diene having from 4 to 12 carbons, the second component being present in an amount from about 99% to about 1% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer blend for fabricating medical products. The blend has a first ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst present in an amount by weight of from about 0% to about 99% by weight of the blend and having a melt flow index from about 0.1 g/10 min to about 5 g/10 min, a second ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst and being present in an amount by weight of the blend from about 0% to about 99% and having a melt flow index from higher than about 5 g/10 min to about 20 g/10 min; and a third ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer obtained using a single-site catalyst and being present in an amount by weight of the blend from about 0% to about 99% and having a melt flow index greater than about 20 g/10 min.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for using medical tubing for infusing therapeutic fluids to a patient comprising the steps of: providing a medical tubing having a sidewall of a polymeric blend, the blend having a polymeric material in an amount by weight within the range of 99.999%-90.0%, and an additive in an amount by weight within the range of 0.001%-10%, the tubing having been oriented along a longitudinal axis of the tubing to define a oriented diameter that is less than a diameter of the tubing before orienting; and providing fluid under pressure through the tubing to the patient.

Abstract: A steam sterilizable monolayer medical tubing comprising a blend of a melt strength enhancing agent of a homopolymer or copolymer of polypropylene having free-end long chain branches of propylene units, a melt flow index of greater than 10 and in an amount of 1-10% by weight and a second component selected from the group of (i) a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene and (ii) a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene to which has been grafted, an alpha, beta-olenfically unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid reagent.

Abstract: A multi-layer, flexible, gas-permeable film (10) suitable for forming a cell culture container (20), the film (10) comprising a first layer (12) composed of a polystyrene having a thickness within the range of 0.0001 inches to about 0.0010 inches and, a second layer (14) adhered to the first layer (12) composed of a polyolefin having a thickness within the range of 0.004 inches to about 0.015 inches.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device of a polymer composition. The composition has a first component obtained by copolymerizing a norbornene monomer and an ethylene monomer, the first component being in an amount from about 1-99% by weight of the composition; and a second component of an ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer, the &agr;-olefin having 6 carbons, the second component being in an amount from about 99% to about 1% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: A multiple layer structure comprising a skin layer composed of a polypropylene copolymer with styrene ethylene-butene styrene block copolymer within a range of 0-20% by weight skin layer, and, a radio frequency (“RF”) susceptible layer adhered to the skin layer. The RF layer has a first component of a propylene based polymer, a second component of a nonpropylene polyolefin, a third component of a radio frequency susceptible polymer, and a fourth component of a polymeric compatibilizing agent wherein the radio frequency susceptible polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, polyimides, polyurethanes, polyesters, and polyureas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer composition having a first component obtained by copolymerizing a norbornene monomer and an ethylene monomer, the first component being in an amount from about 1-99% by weight of the composition; and a second component of an ethylene and &agr;-olefin copolymer, the &agr;-olefin having 6 carbons, the second component being in an amount from about 99% to about 1% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a medical tubing with a pump for administering measured amounts of a beneficial fluid over time to a patient comprising the steps of providing a tubing having a first layer selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymers and ethylene copolymers, wherein the copolymers of ethylene are an ethylene monomer copolymerized with at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl olefins, lower alkyl esters of a carboxylic acid, and lower alkene esters of a carboxylic acid, the lower alkyl and lower alkene having from 3 to 18 carbons, the tubing having been exposed to a sterilization dosage of radiation of from about 15 to about 45 kGys; and pumping fluid through the tubing with the pump.

Abstract: A multiple layer structure comprising a skin layer composed of a polypropylene copolymer with styrene ethylene-butene styrene block copolymer within a range of 0-20% by weight skin layer, and, a radio frequency (“RF”) susceptible layer adhered to the skin layer. The RF layer has a first component of a propylene based polymer, a second component of a nonpropylene polyolefin, a third component of a radio frequency susceptible polymer, and a fourth component of a polymeric compatibilizing agent.