| abstract |
This invention relates to a new water soluble lubricant for a medical device, such as a catheter and an introducer needle. The lubricant is a silicone surfactant which is non-ionic and which is a good lubricating fluid. Preferably the silicone surfactant that is used is a block copolymer polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane. Water is used as the solvent for this lubricant. The lubrication solution includes a solution stabilizer to clarify the solution and antimicrobial agents to inhibit microbial growth in the water solution or on the coated product. Vitamin E or its derivatives may also be used in the lubrication solution. When the lubrication solution is used to lubricate Teflon products, a small amount of a low molecular weight alcohol is added to the lubrication solution to increase wettability. |