Continuous tubing with alternating compositions for medical devices

Abstract

A continuous tube having alternating compositions along a length direction of the tube can include at least a first segment extruded from a first composition along a length direction of the tube and at least a second segment extruded from a second composition along the length direction of the tube in which the first and second segments are integrally joined. Additional segments can be added to the continuous tubing. Such tubing can be used as medical device such as with infusion sets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a continuous tube having alternating compositions along a length direction of the tube, the method comprising:
 extruding a first segment of a tube from a first polymeric composition along a length direction of the tube by a first pump on an extrusion line followed by extruding a second segment of the tube from a second polymeric composition along the length direction of the tube by a second pump on the extrusion line;   wherein the first and second polymeric compositions are different and the first segment and second segments are integrally joined by a transition segment between the first and second segments, the transition comprising a mixture of the first and second polymeric compositions and is formed during the sequential extrusion of the first and second segments.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extruding a third segment of the tube from a third polymeric composition along the length direction of the tube by a third pump on the extrusion line; wherein the second segment and third segments are integrally joined. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition of the first and third segments comprise a non-hydrogenated styrenic based TPE and the composition of the second segment comprises a hydrogenated styrenic TPE. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second and third segments are joined by a second transition segment between the second and third segments, the second transition segment comprising a mixture of the second and third polymeric compositions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition of the first and third segments comprise a non-hydrogenated styrenic based TPE and the composition of the second segment comprises a hydrogenated styrenic TPE. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third polymeric compositions are different from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymeric composition is different from the second polymeric composition such that a property of the first segment and second segment differs by a level of at least 5%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises a lubricious polymer and the second composition comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyether block amide or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition includes a styrenic based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), non-hydrogenated styrenic based TPE, thermoplastic polyurethane ester based, ether based or carbonate based, thermal plastic olefin (TPO), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second composition includes a styrenic based TPE, non-hydrogenated and hydrogenated styrenic based TPE and blends thereof, thermoplastic polyurethane ester based, ether based, or carbonate based, EVA, EVA blend with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blend with LDPE, TPO, PVC, etc. and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second compositions include a different type or amount of an additive. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition segment has a length of less than 15 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second stepped-down diameter along the length of the tube toward the second segment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first segment and third segment each have a Shore A hardness higher than that of the second segment. 
     
     
         15 . A method of regulating fluid flow from an infusion pump, the method comprising:
 connecting a continuous tubing to the infusion pump to enable a fluid from the infusion pump to flow through the continuous tubing,   wherein the continuous tubing comprises alternating compositions along a length direction of the tube, the tube comprising at least a first segment with a first polymeric composition along a length direction of the tube and at least a second segment with a second polymeric composition along the length direction of the tube;   wherein the at least first segment is integrally joined to the second segment along the length direction of the tube by a transition segment between the first and second segment that comprises a mixture of the first and second polymeric compositions, and   wherein the first polymeric composition has a first polymer and the second polymeric composition has a second polymer in which the first polymer is different from the second polymer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the first segment includes a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second stepped-down diameter along the length of the tube toward the second segment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the transition segment has a length of less than 15 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the continuous tubing further comprises a third segment with a third polymeric composition along the length direction integrally joined to the second segment by a second transition segment between the second and third segment that comprises a mixture of the second and third polymeric compositions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first segment and third segment each have a Shore A hardness higher than that of the second segment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the composition of the first and third segments comprise a non-hydrogenated styrenic based TPE and the composition of the second segment comprises a hydrogenated styrenic TPE.