The present invention relates to membranes including an urethane including a polyester polyol, wherein the membrane has a gas transmission rate of 15.0 or less for nitrogen gas wherein the membrane has an average thickness of approximately 20.0 mils. Under certain embodiments, the membranes include blends of one or more polyester polyol based thermoplastic urethanes and one or more barrier materials. The membranes can be employed in a variety of applications and can be used as either monolayers or multi-layered laminates.

Membranes of polyurethane based materials including polyester polyols

Products in the form of cushioning devices made from flexible membranes employing at least one layer including thermoplastic urethane and at least one layer of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol are inflatable to a relatively high pressure. The cushioning devices maintain the internal inflatant pressure for extended periods of time by employing a phenomenon referred to in the industry as diffusion pumping. Ideally, the cushioning devices of the present invention can be permanently inflated with gases such as nitrogen or air.

Cushioning device with improved flexible barrier membrane

A method and coating for reducing the release rate of an active agent from an implantable device, such as a stent, is disclosed.

40-o-(2-hydroxy)ethyl-rapamycin coated stent

The present invention relates to barrier membranes including a barrier layer which includes one or more thermoplastic urethane formed from polyester polyols. More particularly, the membranes include a barrier layer including blends of one or more polyester polyol based thermoplastic urethanes and one or more copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. The barrier membranes can be employed in a variety of applications and can be used as either monolayers or multi-layered laminates.

Barrier membranes including a barrier layer employing polyester polyols

The present invention relates to a stirred-tank reactor system and methods of preparing such systems. The present invention further encompasses the use of the stirred-tank reactor system as a disposable bioreactor (104) and in kits with disposable elements.

Stirred-tank reactor system

This invention relates to a polymer article prepared by the process comprising the steps of: (1) blending polymer composition comprising (A) at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, (B) at least one propylene ethylene copolymer, and (C) (1) from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a cross-linking agent, (2) from about 0.1% to about 35% by weight of one or more polymers selected from: (i) at least one co-, or terpolymer of at least one vinyl aromatic compound; (ii) at least one co-, or terpolymer of an alpha-olefin, and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, a vinyl silane, and a vinyl alcohol; (iii) at least one polyolefin other than a propylene homopolymer or a propylene-ethylene copolymer; (iv) at least one polyetheramide block copolymer; (v) at least one ionomer; (vi) at least one oxidized polyolefin wax, or mixtures of (1) and (2); and forming the polymer composition into the article. This invention also relates to articles such as bags, pouches, tubing, closures, etc. The polymer articles of the present invention can be used to form a variety of medical parts with good mechanical properties. The polymer articles are RF weldable and have a low specific gravity, allowing down-gauging and improved processing relative to PVC. In addition, the polymer articles are sterilizable by a wide variety of methods including steam, gamma, ethylene oxide and E-beam techniques, as well as possessing high contact and see-through clarity and excellent barrier properties. These polymer films are halogen free. The articles do not produce toxic or corrosive chemicals upon incineration. Thus, these articles do not pose an environmental disposal problem.

Radio frequency weldable polymer articles

Blended polymer compositions are described which comprise: (I) at least one crystalline alpha-olefin polymer; (II) from about 5 to about 60 % by weight of at least one elastomeric copolymer of an alpha-olefin and an alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester; (III) from about 1 to 30 % by weight of the product of the reaction of an alpha-olefin polymer and an alpha,beta-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid reagent; and (IV) from about 0 to about 40 % by weight of at least one modifier selected from the group consisting of (a) an ethylene-propylene copolymer elastomer which is different from the alpha-olefin polymer (I); (b) an elastomer which is a copolymer of a vinyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene; and (c) a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene. The blended polymer compositions of the present invention exhibit improved surface properties such as adherability and paintability. In one embodiment, the blended polymer compositions can be painted directly without primer or adhesion promoter.

Rajeev S. Bhatia

Papers

Radio frequency weldable polymer articles

High surface energy polyolefin blend compositions