Lubricious extruded medical tubing

Abstract

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A medical tube, the medical tube comprising:
 an outer surface, wherein the outer surface has a first radius; and   an inner surface, wherein the inner surface includes a second radius and a third radius, wherein the second radius and the third radius define a plurality of alternating protuberances and depressions, wherein adjacent ones of the protuberances are separated by a distance, and wherein a difference between the second radius and the third radius is between about one time and about five times the distance.   
     
     
         21 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the protuberances are generally circumferentially evenly spaced about the inner surface. 
     
     
         22 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the third radius is sized based on a diameter of a medical device to be inserted in the medical tube. 
     
     
         23 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the protuberances are generally rounded at their apexes. 
     
     
         24 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the depressions are generally rounded at their apexes. 
     
     
         25 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the first radius is between about 0.07 inches and about 0.15 inches, wherein the second radius is between about 0.05 inches and about 0.13 inches, and wherein the protuberances number between about 25 and about 100. 
     
     
         26 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the first radius, second radius, and third radius extend from a central axis of the medical tube. 
     
     
         27 . The medical tube of  claim 21 , wherein the medical tube is formed from a blended material comprising an organic polymer resin and a lubricity enhancing additive. 
     
     
         28 . The medical tube of  claim 27 , wherein the lubricity enhancing additive is less than about 10 percent of the blended material. 
     
     
         29 . The medical tube of  claim 27 , wherein the lubricity enhancing additive is one or more of siloxane and Franklinite. 
     
     
         30 . A medical tube, the medical tube comprising:
 an outer surface, wherein the out surface has a first radius;   an inner surface; and   a plurality of protuberances formed in the inner surface, wherein each of the protuberances extend from the inner surface by a second distance, wherein apexes of each adjacent protuberances are separated by a first distance, and wherein the second distance is between about one time and about five times the first distance.   
     
     
         31 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the protuberances are generally circumferentially evenly spaced about the inner surface. 
     
     
         32 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein apexes of the protuberances are located at a third radius, and wherein the third radius is sized based on a medical device to be inserted into the medical tube. 
     
     
         33 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the protuberances are generally rounded at their apexes. 
     
     
         34 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the protuberances are separated by depressions, and wherein the depressions are generally rounded at their apexes. 
     
     
         35 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the first radius is between about 0.07 inches and about 0.15 inches. 
     
     
         36 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the protuberances number between about 25 and about 100 
     
     
         37 . The medical tube of  claim 30 , wherein the medical tube is formed from a blended material comprising an organic polymer resin and a lubricity enhancing additive. 
     
     
         38 . The medical tube of  claim 37 , wherein the lubricity enhancing additive is less than about 10 percent of the blended material. 
     
     
         39 . The medical tube of  claim 37 , wherein the lubricity enhancing additive is one or more of siloxane and Franklinite.