Methods of applying a hydrophilic coating to a substrate, and substrates having a hydrophilic coating

Abstract

This invention relates to methods of applying to a substrate a hydrophilic coating that becomes lubricious when activated with water or water vapor, and to substrates having such a hydrophilic coating.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A urinary catheter having a cross-linked hydrophilic coating disposed thereon, comprising:
 a catheter tube having an outer surface comprising a water-swellable polymer; and   a cross-linked hydrophilic coating physically entangled with the water-swellable polymer of the outer surface of the catheter tube to sufficiently anchor the coating to the outer surface without the need for covalent interactions between the outer surface and the coating.   
     
     
         2 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein the catheter tube is made entirely of a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein the catheter tube includes an outer layer defining the outer surface of the catheter tube and the catheter tube includes an inner layer. 
     
     
         4 . The urinary catheter of  claim 3  wherein the inner layer is comprised of a non-water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The urinary catheter of  claim 3  wherein the inner layer is comprised of a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface also includes a non-water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein the cross-linked hydrophilic coating comprises at least one of (i) a cross-linked water-soluble polymer and (ii) a polymerized water-soluble monomer. 
     
     
         8 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein the water-swellable polymer comprises a block copolymer selected from one or more of water-swellable polyamide-based copolymers, water-swellable polyester-based copolymers, water-swellable urethane-based copolymers. 
     
     
         9 . The urinary catheter of  claim 7  wherein the cross-linked water-soluble polymer is one or more of polyacrylic acids, acrylic acid copolymers, poly-N-vinyl lactams, polyvinylalcohols, polyvinylalcohol copolymers. 
     
     
         10 . A method of applying a hydrophilic coating to an outer surface of a catheter tube, wherein the outer surface comprises a water-swellable polymer, the method comprising:
 contacting the outer surface of the catheter tube with a solution to swell the water swellable polymer of the outer surface, said solution comprising water and/or alcohol and at least one of (i) a water-soluble polymer capable of being cross-linked to form a cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating and (ii) a water-soluble monomer capable of being polymerized to form a cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating; and   forming the cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating, said coating being physically entangled to the outer surface of the catheter tube to sufficiently anchor the coating to the outer surface without the need for covalent interactions between the outer surface and the coating.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the catheter tube is made entirely of a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the catheter tube includes an outer layer defining the outer surface of the catheter tube the catheter tube includes an inner layer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the inner layer is comprised of a non-water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the inner layer is comprised of a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  where the catheter tube material is thermoplastic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further including coextruding the outer and inner layers to form the catheter tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the water-swellable polymer comprises a block copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the water-soluble polymer includes one or more of polyacrylic acids, acrylic acid copolymers, poly-N-vinyl lactams, polyvinylalcohols, polyvinylalcohol copolymers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the water-soluble monomer includes one or more of vinyl alcohols, vinylpyrollidones, acrylamides, methacrylates and acrylic acids. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the solution further comprises a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of UV activatable cross-linking agents, carbodiimides, aziridines, melamine formaldehydes, and multifunctional carboxylic acid cross-linking agents.