Catheter and Process for Producing the Catheter

Abstract

A catheter having a catheter layer composed of a composition containing ETFE and PTFE in a weight ratio of 99:1 to 45:55, wherein there is got a luminal internal surface consisting of a material that exhibits lubricity substantially identical with that of PTFE and has a resistance to radioactive rays not had by PTFE.

1 . A catheter comprising a catheter layer composed of a composition containing ETFE and PTFE in a mass ratio of from 99:1 to 45:55. 
   
   
       2 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said mass ratio is from 95:5 to 60:40. 
   
   
       3 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a resin layer composed of a resin composition different from said composition, on said catheter layer. 
   
   
       4 . The catheter according to  claim 3 , further comprising a reinforcement layer between said catheter layer and said resin layer. 
   
   
       5 . The catheter according to  claim 4 , wherein said reinforcement layer is composed of a metallic wire material. 
   
   
       6 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter. 
   
   
       7 . A catheter comprising an elongated tube, said elongated tube having a proximal end section and a distal end section defining a lumen and a wall, said wall having a tubular cross section substantially uniform in thickness between said distal end section and said proximal end section, and said wall being composed of a composition containing ETFE and PTFE in a mass ratio of from 99:1 to 45:55. 
   
   
       8 . A process for producing a catheter comprising the steps of:
 mixing ETFE and PTFE in a mass ratio of from 99:1 to 45:55 and forming the mixture into a tubular body;   forming a reinforcement layer and a resin layer on said tubular body obtained and forming a catheter;   sealingly packaging said catheter; and   sterilizing said packaged catheter with radioactive rays.   
   
   
       9 . The catheter according to  claim 2 , further comprising a resin layer composed of a resin composition different from said composition, on said catheter layer. 
   
   
       10 . The catheter according to  claim 9 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter. 
   
   
       11 . The catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter. 
   
   
       12 . The catheter according to  claim 3 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter. 
   
   
       13 . The catheter according to  claim 4 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter. 
   
   
       14 . The catheter according to  claim 5 , wherein said catheter layer constitutes a luminal internal surface of said catheter.