Multi-layered tubing

Abstract

Tubing comprising an inner layer, an outer layer and a middle layer, wherein the inner and outer layers comprise a polyurethane and the middle layer comprises an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of the acrylate copolymers or a mixture of two or more thereof.

1 . A tube having a wall comprising an inner layer, an outer layer and a middle layer, wherein the inner layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, the outer layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane and the middle layer comprises an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the inner layer and outer layer each comprise more than about 90% by weight of an aromatic or aliphatic polyether based polyurethane and the middle layer comprises more than about 90% by weight of one or more of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene methyl arcylate copolymer, or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer. 
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 2  wherein one or both of the inner and outer layers comprise a polytetramethyleneglycol-based polyurethane. 
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 3  wherein the ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer comprises at least about 19.5 percent by weight ethyl acrylate content. 
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 3  wherein the ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer comprises at least about 19.5 percent by weight methyl acrylate content. 
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the inner and outer layers do not visually delaminate from the middle layer, at a stress up to of about 55 MPa and a strain up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the tube does not visually delaminate when submersed in water at 60° C. for 36 hours. 
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the tube has a central axial fluid flow passage through which aqueous fluid is routed, the inner layer having a radially inner wall surface that contacts the aqueous fluid, the outer and inner layers resisting delamination from the middle layer, at a stress of up to about 55 MPa and a strain of up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 8  wherein the tube does not visually delaminate after being submersed in water at 60° C. for 36 hours. 
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the middle layer comprises from about 5% to about 98% of the thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the middle layer comprises from about 10% to about 85% of the thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the middle layer comprises from about 61% to about 98% of the thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the middle layer is between about 0.008 inches and about 0.120 inches and the thickness of each of the inner and outer layers is between about 0.00025 inches inches and about 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the middle layer is between about 0.008 inches and about 0.120 inches and the thickness of each of the inner and outer layers is between about 0.00025 inches inches and about 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The tube of  claim 11  wherein the thickness of the middle layer is between about 0.008 inches and about 0.120 inches and the thickness of each of the inner and outer layers is between about 0.00025 inches inches and about 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The tube of  claim 12  wherein the thickness of the middle layer is between about 0.008 inches and about 0.120 inches and the thickness of each of the inner and outer layers is between about 0.00025 inches inches and about 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         17 . Method of forming a fluid delivery tube comprising;
 selecting a first material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   selecting a second material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   selecting a third material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing,   forming a tube comprised of an inner layer of the first material, an outer layer of the second material and a middle layer of the third material,   wherein the middle layer adheres the inner and outer layers together;   wherein the tube has a central fluid flow passage surrounded by the inner, middle and outer layers.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of forming comprises co-extruding the first, second and third materials simultaneously to form the inner and outer layers having a cross-sectional thickness of between about 0.00025 and about 0.025 inches and to form the middle layer having a cross-sectional thickness of between about 0.008 inches and about 0.120 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of forming comprises co-extruding the first, second and third materials such that the middle layer is between about 5% and about 98% of the total cross-sectional thickness of the inner, outer and middle layers combined. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of forming comprises co-extruding the first, second and third materials such that the middle layer is between about 10% and about 85% of the total cross-sectional thickness of the inner, outer and middle layers combined. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of forming comprises co-extruding the first, second and third materials such that the middle layer is between about 61% and about 98% of the total cross-sectional thickness of the inner, outer and middle layers combined. 
     
     
         22 . A medical tube for transport of aqueous fluid comprising:
 an inner layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   an outer layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane and,   a middle layer disposed between the outer and inner layers comprising more than about 90% by weight of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing.   
     
     
         23 . The medical tube of  claim 22  wherein the inner and outer layers do not visually delaminate from the middle layer at a stress of up to about 55 MPa and a strain of up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         24 . The tube of  claim 23  wherein the tube does not visually delaminate after being submersed in water at 60° C. for 36 hours. 
     
     
         25 . The tube of  claim 22  where the inner layer and outer layer each comprise more than about 90% by weight of an aromatic or aliphatic polyether based polyurethane. 
     
     
         26 . The tube of  claim 25  wherein the aromatic polyether based polyurethane comprises a polytetramethyleneglycol-based polyurethane. 
     
     
         27 . A medical tube for transport of an aqueous fluid comprising:
 an inner layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   an outer layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane and,   a middle layer disposed between the inner and outer layers comprised of at least about 90% by weight of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein said tube does not visually delaminate after being submersed in water at 60° C. for 36 hours.   
     
     
         28 . The medical tube of  claim 27 , wherein the tube does not visually delaminate at a stress of up to about 55 MPa and a strain of up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         29 . Method of delivering an aqueous fluid to a subject comprising;
 selecting a tube comprising an inner layer, an outer layer and a middle layer, wherein the inner and outer layers each comprise more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane and the middle layer comprises an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing;   wherein the tube has a central fluid flow passage surrounded by the layers;   routing an aqueous fluid through the central fluid flow passage of the tube, and,   delivering the aqueous fluid routed through the central fluid flow passage into a blood vessel of the subject.   
     
     
         30 . A tube for transport of a non-aqueous fluid comprising:
 an inner layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   an outer layer comprising more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane and,   a middle layer disposed between the inner and outer layers comprised of at least about 90% by weight of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein said tube does not visually delaminate after being submersed in water at 60° C. for 36 hours.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the fluid comprises a liquid or gaseous non-aqueous fluid selected from the group of ethers, alcohols, hydrocarbons, amines, aldehydes, ketones, amides, carboxylic acids, esters, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, hydrogen and nitrogen and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing with each other and one or more of the foregoing together with an aqueous fluid. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the tube does not visually delaminate at a stress of up to about 55 MPa and a strain of up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         33 . Method of delivering a non-aqueous fluid comprising;
 selecting a tube comprising an inner layer, an outer layer and a middle layer, wherein the inner and outer layers comprise more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane and the middle layer comprises an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing;   wherein the tube has a central fluid flow passage surrounded by the layers;   routing the non-aqueous fluid through the central fluid flow passage of the tube, and,   delivering the non-aqueous fluid routed through the central fluid flow passage to a preselected repository for receipt of the fluid.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the fluid comprises a liquid or gaseous non-aqueous fluid selected from the group of ethers, alcohols, hydrocarbons, amines, aldehydes, ketones, amides, carboxylic acids, esters, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, hydrogen and nitrogen and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing with each other or one or more of the foregoing together with an aqueous fluid. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the tube does not visually delaminate at a stress of up to about 55 MPa and a strain of up to about 900-950%. 
     
     
         36 . Method of delivering a selected fluid to a selected repository comprising;
 selecting a first material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   selecting a second material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane,   selecting a third material comprised of more than about 90% by weight of an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer or an anhydride grafted ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, a copolymer of two or more of said acrylates or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing,   forming a tube comprised of an inner layer of the first material, an outer layer of the second material and a middle layer of the third material,   wherein the middle layer adheres the inner and outer layers together;   wherein the tube has a central fluid flow passage surrounded by the inner, middle and outer layers;   routing the fluid through the central fluid flow passage of the tube, and,   delivering the fluid routed through the central fluid flow passage to the selected repository for receipt of the fluid.