A catheter shaft includes an inner layer defining an innermost circumferential surface of the catheter shaft and defining a lumen of the catheter shaft, and an outer layer defining an outermost circumferential surface of the catheter shaft. The inner layer is formed by a first polymer having a first durometer and a first melting temperature. The outer layer is formed by alternating first and second segments of the first polymer and a second polymer, respectively, that alternate in a circumferential direction. The second polymer has a second durometer softer than the first durometer and a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature. Each segment of the alternating first and second segments extend in an axial direction for substantially an entire length of the catheter shaft. A method of forming the catheter shaft via extrusion is also disclosed.

High strength biomedical materials and processes for making the same are disclosed. Included in the disclosure are nanoporous hydrophilic solids that can be extruded with a high aspect ratio to make high strength medical catheters and other devices with lubricious and biocompatible surfaces.

The invention relates to a multi-layer balloon film material in which one or more layers of an elastically deforming material is/are combined with one or more layers of a plastically deforming non-elastic material, wherein the non-elastic layer counteracts the straightening properties of the elastic layer in the case of planar folds or bends in the balloon film material. In particular, the cross-sectional area of eyelet- or channel-shaped structures which conducts secretions or fluids, which structures typically occur in the area of wrinkle-like invaginations of a residually sized balloon film in an organ lumen or a body cavity, can be reduced and, particularly in the case of cyclically changing filling pressures of the balloon, can be stabilized in such a way that an optimally sealing closure or tamponade effect is achieved across the largest possible filling pressure amplitudes.

Certain embodiments relate to a soft odor barrier material in a medical device. The soft odor barrier material includes an elastomer and an antiblocking agent. In certain forms, the antiblocking agent imparts an interior rough surface having an arithmetic mean surface roughness (Ra) not less than 0.1 μm. In certain forms, the antiblocking agent is non-blocking upon folding and packaging.

A medical device wherein the device has an outer surface coated with an oleophilic lubricous coating or the device is formed from a mixture including a polymer and an oleophilic compound.

In some examples, a catheter includes a structural support member including bamboo. For example, a catheter may include a bamboo coil and/or a bamboo braided member positioned between an inner liner and an outer jacket. The structural support member comprising bamboo may be configured to be biodegradable.

An extension tube for a urinary catheter comprises a tubular body with an inlet opening, an outlet opening and an internal lumen extending between the inlet opening and the opening. The tubular body comprising at least a first layer, which first layer includes natural and/or regenerated cellulose fibers, and preferably to a large extent, such as at least 40 wt %. The tubular body is further arranged to be compressible into a compacted, preferably generally flat, storage state, and to be expandable into an expanded, tubular use state

The present invention relates to substrates and composites having dynamic, reversible micron-level luminal surface deformation including texture or geometric instabilities, e.g., surface wrinkling and folding. The surface deformation and its reversal to the original surface form or to another, different surface form, is effective to reduce or prevent surface fouling and, more particularly, in certain applications, to reduce or prevent unwanted platelet adhesion and thrombus formation. The substrates and composites include a wide variety of designs and, more particularly, biomedical-related designs, such as, synthetic vascular graft or patch designs.

Methods have been discovered that make it possible to continuously extrude tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof. These methods allow tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof to be produced without radial deformation of the tubes despite the slow crystallization of the polymer and copolymers. The methods can produce tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof with tightly defined outside and inside diameters which are required for medical application. These tubes are produced by radial expansion at temperatures above the melting temperature of P4HB and copolymers thereof, and using low tube cooling temperatures and prolonged cooling times. The tubes made from P4HB and copolymers thereof are flexible, and can be prepared with high elongation to break values.

An embolization microcatheter is configured to deliver embolization particles to a target area and minimize or prevent embolization of a non-target area. The microcatheter includes a section, located between the distal and proximal ends of the microcatheter, having a skeleton formed of braided wires and a polymeric layer intercalated into and/or overlaying the skeleton. This section includes a plurality of axial slits, each slit having a smallest cross-sectional dimension configured to prevent outflow of the embolization particles.