Lubricious thermoplastic articles are formed from thermoplastic compounds including (a) thermoplastic elastomer selected from thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether block amide, and combinations thereof; and (b) from about 5 to about 20 weight percent, by weight of the compound, of hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer selected from polyolefin-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic compounds are capable of providing enhanced lubricity in the thermoplastic articles without significant degradation in mechanical properties such as elongation and tensile strength, as compared to thermoplastic articles formed from the neat thermoplastic elastomer and subjected to the same heat processing history.

Lubricious thermoplastic articles are formed from thermoplastic compounds including (a) thermoplastic elastomer selected from thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether block amide, and combinations thereof; and (b) from about 5 to about 20 weight percent, by weight of the compound, of hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer selected from polyolefin-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic compounds are capable of providing enhanced lubricity in the thermoplastic articles without significant degradation in mechanical properties such as elongation and tensile strength, as compared to thermoplastic articles formed from the neat thermoplastic elastomer and subjected to the same heat processing history.

Polymeric materials that are blends of polymers having differing water solubility rates are disclosed. The blends may be incorporated into at least a portion of a medical devices such as the shafts of flushable urinary catheters to provide suitable catheter stiffness/flexibility and catheter disintegration in water receptacles such as toilets. The blended material may provide the substrate of the catheter shaft or may provide one or more layers of the catheter.

Polymeric materials that are blends of polymers having differing water solubility rates are disclosed. The blends may be incorporated into at least a portion of a medical devices such as the shafts of flushable urinary catheters to provide suitable catheter stiffness/flexibility and catheter disintegration in water receptacles such as toilets. The blended material may provide the substrate of the catheter shaft or may provide one or more layers of the catheter.

A balloon dilation catheter, a balloon (10) and preparation method therefor. The balloon (10) is prepared by co-mixing at least two of L25, TR55, TR90, and TR70, and has high puncture resistance and low compliance with respect to a balloon (10) made of a single nylon material. The balloon (10) is preferably a hollow multilayer structure, and the puncture resistance of the balloon (10) can be further improved and the compliance can be further reduced with respect to a single-layer structure.

A balloon dilation catheter, a balloon (10) and preparation method therefor. The balloon (10) is prepared by co-mixing at least two of L25, TR55, TR90, and TR70, and has high puncture resistance and low compliance with respect to a balloon (10) made of a single nylon material. The balloon (10) is preferably a hollow multilayer structure, and the puncture resistance of the balloon (10) can be further improved and the compliance can be further reduced with respect to a single-layer structure.

A catheter including a hollow shaft having one or more curved parts. At least one curved part of the curved parts has a first region that is made of a first resin material, a second region that is provided closer to the distal end side in the longitudinal direction than the first region and is made of a second resin material having a different composition from the first resin material, and a third region that is provided adjacent to the first region and the second region and is made of a third resin material formed by mixing the first resin material and the second resin material.

An endoscopic treatment instrument including a dual tube inserted into a channel of an endoscope, the dual tube including an outer tube and an inner tube being inserted into the outer tube and moving forward and backward relative to the outer tube. The outer tube and the inner tube are made of a plastic material composed of a mixture of an organic polymer and a silicone compound, the organic polymer is polypropylene and the silicone compound is polydimethylsiloxane, and the polypropylene is 90 to 99.5 wt % and the polydimethylsiloxane is 0.5 to 10 wt %.

An endoscopic treatment instrument including a dual tube inserted into a channel of an endoscope, the dual tube including an outer tube and an inner tube being inserted into the outer tube and moving forward and backward relative to the outer tube. The outer tube and the inner tube are made of a plastic material composed of a mixture of an organic polymer and a silicone compound, the organic polymer is polypropylene and the silicone compound is polydimethylsiloxane, and the polypropylene is 90 to 99.5 wt % and the polydimethylsiloxane is 0.5 to 10 wt %.

An elastomeric polymer, comprising (1) a hard segment in the amount of 10% to 60% by weight of the elastomeric polymer, wherein the hard segment includes a urethane, urea or urethaneurea; and (2) a soft segment in the amount of 40% to 90% by weight of the elastomeric polymer. The soft segment comprises (a) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyether macrodiol, and/or at least one polycarbonate macrodiol; and (b) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyisobutylene macrodiol and/or diamine.