The present invention provides an acrylated polyolefin tubing (12) crosslinked by irradiation. The tubing (12) is electrically insulating and can be heat shrunk upon a substrate (14) for perfecting a fluid tight seal therewith. The tubing (12) remains adhesively sealed to the substrate (14) and maintains heat sealability after cyclic autoclave sterilization. Moreover, the subject tubing does not permanently discolor after cyclic gamma or electron beam sterilization. The tubing (12) is particularly useful as an outer sheath for electro-surgical instruments (18).
The present invention provides an acrylated polyolefin tubing (12) crosslinked by irradiation. The tubing (12) is electrically insulating and can be heat shrunk upon a substrate (14) for perfecting a fluid tight seal therewith. The tubing (12) remains adhesively sealed to the substrate (14) and maintains heat sealability after cyclic autoclave sterilization. Moreover, the subject tubing does not permanently discolor after cyclic gamma or electron beam sterilization. The tubing (12) is particularly useful as an outer sheath for electro-surgical instruments (18).