| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a method for improving the biocompatibility of devices, especially medical devices which are invasively present within a patient's body and the improved medical device. The present invention particularly reduces the thrombogenicity of polyurethane materials in contact with the blood of a living patient. The method comprises providing a biocompatible medical device having polymeric polyurethane components thereon, exposing the polyurethane components of the medical device to polar solvents for said polymeric components while the polar solvents are in the vapor phase, and allowing said vapor phase exposure to continue for a sufficient amount of time as to reduce at least some irregular or sharp features on the surface of the polymeric component. The invention describes a method of improving a medical device having at least one polymeric component, the process comprising the steps of providing a vapor phase comprising a solvent for said polymer component, and exposing said polymeric component to said vapor phase. The process comprises taking a polyurethane component having a surface with a topography (e.g., roughness, grooves, wave patterns, sharp edge features, deviations from planarity and the like), and exposing the polyurethane component to said vapor phase to increase planarity in said topography. This is done without chemical reaction with the polymer component, and because of the control of the amount of solvent which can contact the polymer, the potential for damage to the polymeric component is reduced. In particular, the vapor phase treatment will reduce the dimensions of extrusion markings on the exterior surface of the polyurethane with minimum potential for damage to the structure of the polyurethane, even where the polyurethane is present as thin walls (e.g., less than 0.0762 mm).
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