Biodegradable, magnesium alloys and composites, articles produced therefrom, methods of making the same, and methods of using the same are described.

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

Nanoparticle composites comprised of a metal oxide and ions of a metallic element included within a crystal lattice of said metal oxide are disclosed. Process of preparing the nanoparticle composites per se and incorporated in or on a substrate are also disclosed. Uses of the nanoparticle composites and of substrates incorporating same, particularly for reducing a formation of a load of a microorganism or of a biofilm, are also disclosed.

Drainage devices for draining a fluid from a patient during treatment of a medical condition body are disclosed. The drainage devices comprise a body defining at least one conduit through the body from a distal end of the body to a proximal end of the body. The body comprises at least one carbon-based structure configured to inhibit growth of fibroblasts in the conduit when the fluid flows through the conduit. Example embodiments of the drainage device may include an ophthalmic shunt, a hydrocephalus shunt, an artificial mesh, an arteriovenous shunt, a thoracic catheter, and a central venous access device.

A radiopaque composite wire for medical applications has a core comprising a rare earth metal, an outer layer comprising a nickel-titanium alloy disposed over the core, and a controlled diffusion zone between the core and the outer layer. The controlled diffusion zone includes at least one compound phase comprising (a) the rare earth metal and (b) nickel and/or titanium.

A radiopaque composite wire for medical applications comprises a core comprising a rare earth metal, an outer layer comprising a nickel-titanium alloy disposed over the core, and a diffusion barrier comprising a barrier material between the core and the outer layer. A method of making a radiopaque composite wire includes cold drawing a composite billet through a die, where the composite billet includes a tube comprising a nickel-titanium alloy disposed about a rod comprising a rare earth metal, and a barrier layer comprising a barrier material disposed between the tube and the rod. After cold drawing, the composite billet is annealed to relieve strain. After multiple passes of the cold drawing and annealing, a radiopaque composite wire having a core comprising the rare earth metal, an outer layer comprising the nickel-titanium alloy, and a diffusion barrier comprising the barrier material between the core and the outer layer is formed.

Guide wire devices fabricated from a linear pseudo-elastic NiTi alloy and methods for their manufacture. The NiTi alloy that includes nickel, titanium, and about 3 atomic % (at %) to about 30 at % niobium (Nb). Cold working the NiTi alloy stabilizes the alloy's martensitic phase and yields a linear pseudo-elastic microstructure where reversion to the austenite phase is retarded or altogether blocked. The martensitic phase of cold worked, linear pseudo-elastic NiTiNb alloy has an elastic modulus that is considerably higher than the comparable cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary NiTi alloy. This yields a guide wire device that has better torque response and steerability as compared to cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary NiTi alloy or superelastic binary NiTi alloy.

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

Biodegradable, magnesium alloys and composites, articles produced therefrom, methods of making the same, and methods of using the same are described.

Various examples are provided related to blood-interface materials for metallic biomedical implants and devices. In one example, a bio-compatible implant or device includes an organosilane plasma polymerization (OPP) coating disposed on a surface of a metallic structure. The OPP coating can include inorganic silica disposed on bare metal of the metallic structure and forming a nano-textured surface. In another example, a biocompatible implant or device includes a composite coating disposed on a surface of the metallic structure. The composite coating can include silica-DEA, silica-MEA or silica-TEA coating disposed on bare metal of the metallic structure and forming a nano-textured surface. In another example, a method includes providing a metallic structure and exposing it to an OPP process to form a coating on the surface of the metallic structure to form the bio-compatible implant or device.