This is a water disintegrable, flushable catheter that will dissolve or biodegrade in water. It is coated with a hydrophilic coating and will achieve lubricity values typical of a hydrophilic catheter. The catheter may be formed of a bi-layer tube that has a biodegradable outer layer such as polylactic acid and a purely water disintegrable inner layer, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The outer layer will support the hydrophilic coating even when it's wetted and thus acts as a stable primer layer for hydrophilic style coatings. The outer layer bonds well to the water disintegrable inner layer but also allows a hydrophilic coating to be applied on top. The outer layer acts as a temporary water barrier. This water barrier allows the hydrophilic coating to be hydrated prior to use but prevents water molecules from attacking the PVOH inner layer. Alternatively, a hydrophilic coating that bonds to either the tubing directly or a via a primer layer but unlike typical hydrophilic coatings the coating is pre-activated by organic activation agents other than water and thus the catheter does not break down in the packaging or sterilization

This is a water disintegrable, flushable catheter that will dissolve or biodegrade in water. It is coated with a hydrophilic coating and will achieve lubricity values typical of a hydrophilic catheter. The catheter may be formed of a bi-layer tube that has a biodegradable outer layer such as polylactic acid and a purely water disintegrable inner layer, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The outer layer will support the hydrophilic coating even when it's wetted and thus acts as a stable primer layer for hydrophilic style coatings. The outer layer bonds well to the water disintegrable inner layer but also allows a hydrophilic coating to be applied on top. The outer layer acts as a temporary water barrier. This water barrier allows the hydrophilic coating to be hydrated prior to use but prevents water molecules from attacking the PVOH inner layer. Alternatively, a hydrophilic coating that bonds to either the tubing directly or a via a primer layer but unlike typical hydrophilic coatings the coating is pre-activated by organic activation agents other than water and thus the catheter does not break down in the packaging or sterilization

Disclosed is a medical device exhibiting superior lubricating property and durability (lubrication retaining property), the medical device comprising a substrate layer, an adhesive layer formed on at least a portion of the substrate layer, comprising a hydrophilic copolymer comprising a structural unit derived from a polymerizable monomer (A) having a sulfobetaine structure, a structural unit derived from a polymerizable monomer (B) having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group, sulfuric acid group, sulfurous acid group, and salts thereof, and a structural unit derived from a polymerizable monomer (C) having a photoreactive group, and a surface lubricious layer formed on at least a portion of the adhesive layer, comprising a hydrophilic polymer dissolvable in a solvent capable of dissolving or swelling the hydrophilic copolymer. Also disclosed are methods for producing medical devices exhibiting superior lubricating property and durability (lubrication retaining property).

A storable molded body is made of treated bacterial cellulose. The treated bacterial cellulose is dry and has a swelling capacity that is greater than untreated bacterial cellulose of the same type. The swelling capacity of the treated bacterial cellulose can be between about 103% and 154% greater than the non-treated bacterial cellulose. The bacterial cellulose can be from Gluconacetobacter xylinus. An implant includes or consists of the molded body of treated bacterial cellulose.

The present disclosure relates to methods for preparing a hydrophilic composition including intimately mixing a silicone component including at least one polysiloxane and a polymer component, and to hydrophobic polymer compositions prepared thereby. One aspect of the disclosure provides an article having a major exterior surface, the article comprising an intimate mixture of a silicone component including at least one polysiloxane; and a polymer component including at least one hydrophilic polymer having a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt. %; wherein the silicone component and the polymer component are present in the mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70. In certain desirable embodiments as otherwise described herein, the intimate mixture is disposed at an exterior surface of the article, e.g., at the major exterior surface of the article.

The present disclosure relates to methods for preparing a hydrophilic composition including intimately mixing a silicone component including at least one polysiloxane and a polymer component, and to hydrophobic polymer compositions prepared thereby. One aspect of the disclosure provides an article having a major exterior surface, the article comprising an intimate mixture of a silicone component including at least one polysiloxane; and a polymer component including at least one hydrophilic polymer having a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt. %; wherein the silicone component and the polymer component are present in the mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70. In certain desirable embodiments as otherwise described herein, the intimate mixture is disposed at an exterior surface of the article, e.g., at the major exterior surface of the article.

The present invention relates to inhibiting or preventing infection and protecting against patency complications after a blood catheter has been inserted in a patient comprising administering to the device a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising: (A) at least one taurinamide derivative, (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of biologically acceptable acids and biologically acceptable salts thereof; and (C) heparin at a low concentration.

The present invention provides an implantable bioreactor comprising cells enclosed within an enclosure, said cells being capable of producing paracrine factors, wherein the enclosure is collapsible or expandable or both or neither, wherein the enclosure is semipermeable such that it provides containment of the cells preventing the egress of the cells while further providing a barrier that shields the cells from immunological attack, and wherein the enclosure is permeable to the entire secretome of the cell including exosomes, nucleic acids and proteins. The implantable bioreactor can have various configurations and can house internally a cell culture matrix than can include hydrogels, microbeads, and nanofiber matrices along with other active agents.

The present invention provides an implantable bioreactor comprising cells enclosed within an enclosure, said cells being capable of producing paracrine factors, wherein the enclosure is collapsible or expandable or both or neither, wherein the enclosure is semipermeable such that it provides containment of the cells preventing the egress of the cells while further providing a barrier that shields the cells from immunological attack, and wherein the enclosure is permeable to the entire secretome of the cell including exosomes, nucleic acids and proteins. The implantable bioreactor can have various configurations and can house internally a cell culture matrix than can include hydrogels, microbeads, and nanofiber matrices along with other active agents.

A method for producing a storable molded body made of bacterial cellulose and a molded body produced according to the method. A preferred method includes providing a molded body made of bacterial cellulose. Optionally, mechanically pressing the entire molded body or parts of the molded body at temperatures in the range of 10 C. to 100 C. and pressures in the range of 0.01 to 1 MPa for a pressing time of 10-200 min. Treating the molded body with a solution of 20% by weight to 50% by weight of glycerol and 50% by weight to 80% by weight of a C1-C3-alcohol/water mixture. Drying the treated molded body.