An elastomer molded body for a medical device includes an elastomer portion and a plurality of silica particles. The elastomer portion contains a fluorine-based elastomer. The plurality of silica particles are more densely distributed in outside of a center portion of the elastomer portion than inside of the center portion, such that at least some of the plurality of silica is exposed to a surface of the elastomer portion.

This invention relates to a composite material which is a copolymer of at least (i) a functionalised carbon nanoparticle, (ii) a polyol, (iii) a compound comprising at least two isocyanate groups, wherein the functionalised carbon nanoparticle and the polyol are covalently bonded by a urethane and optionally a urea and/or an amide linkage, and a process for producing the same. Such composite materials are suitable for use in moulded articles for implantation within a mammal.

This invention relates to a composite material which is a copolymer of at least (i) a functionalised carbon nanoparticle, (ii) a polyol, (iii) a compound comprising at least two isocyanate groups, wherein the functionalised carbon nanoparticle and the polyol are covalently bonded by a urethane and optionally a urea and/or an amide linkage, and a process for producing the same. Such composite materials are suitable for use in moulded articles for implantation within a mammal.

New stretchable electrically conductive composite materials comprising at least one polymer and a plurality of nanoparticles are provided, which exhibit high conductivity even at high strain levels. The composite may comprise polyurethane as the polymer and spherical gold nanoparticles. Such materials have conductivity levels as high as 11,000 Scm.sup.1 at 0% strain and 2,400 Scm.sup.1 at 110% strain. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the composite have a maximum tensile strain of 480% while still exhibiting conductivity of 35 Scm.sup.1. The inventive materials are highly flexible, highly conductive and suitable for a variety of applications, especially for advanced medical devices, implants, and flexible electronics. The disclosure also provides methods of making such stretchable electrically conductive nanocomposites, including formation by layer-by-layer and vacuum assisted flocculation. In certain embodiments, stretchable chiral plasmonic composite materials for use as optic devices and methods for making them are provided.

New stretchable electrically conductive composite materials comprising at least one polymer and a plurality of nanoparticles are provided, which exhibit high conductivity even at high strain levels. The composite may comprise polyurethane as the polymer and spherical gold nanoparticles. Such materials have conductivity levels as high as 11,000 Scm.sup.1 at 0% strain and 2,400 Scm.sup.1 at 110% strain. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the composite have a maximum tensile strain of 480% while still exhibiting conductivity of 35 Scm.sup.1. The inventive materials are highly flexible, highly conductive and suitable for a variety of applications, especially for advanced medical devices, implants, and flexible electronics. The disclosure also provides methods of making such stretchable electrically conductive nanocomposites, including formation by layer-by-layer and vacuum assisted flocculation. In certain embodiments, stretchable chiral plasmonic composite materials for use as optic devices and methods for making them are provided.

Thermoplastic elastomer compositions can be used for medical skin contact applications, comprising: a) 90.9 to 69.0 wt.-% star-shaped block copolymer A with 4 arms of the general structure [S.sub.1(S/B).sub.k(S/B).sub.l(S/B).sub.mS.sub.2].sub.nX, where S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 are vinylaro-matic hard polymer and S/B are soft random vinylaromatic/diene copolymer blocks; X is a coupling center; and b) 9.1 to 31.0 wt.-% of a plasticizer B: b 1) a mixture of mineral oil B1 and cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylic acid C.sub.8 to C.sub.10 dialkyl ester B2; or b2) a mixture of mineral oil B1 and vegetable oil B3.

A plurality of structural layers having different properties are nested together to form the medical balloon. Certain embodiments include at least one layer comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer. The layers of the balloons can slide relative to one another in use. A structural layer may comprise metal reinforcing fibers suspended in a polymer matrix.

Provided herein in some embodiments is an apparatus including a composite balloon with a tubular fiber layer and a polymeric balloon layer over the fiber layer. Also provided herein in some embodiments is a method including inserting a collapsed fiber tube into an expanded polymeric balloon, expanding the collapsed fiber tube to provide an expanded fiber tube, and securing an outer surface of the expanded fiber tube to an inner surface of the expanded polymeric balloon. The method can further include inserting a distal portion of an elongate catheter body through a center of the composite balloon and securing the composite balloon to the distal portion. Thereby, the method can include forming the catheter body with the composite balloon configured to apply a pressure to surrounding walls of an anatomical vessel in an inflated state of the composite balloon to modify one or more intravascular lesions in the anatomical vessel.

A tube for medical instruments according to the present invention includes: a tubular member that is made of resin, a linear member that includes a metal wire member and a resin coating film that covers the metal wire member and that surrounds the tubular member outside the tubular member, and a polymeric elastomer layer that is laminated on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular member such that the polymeric elastomer layer fills in at least a part of an outer peripheral portion of the linear member in a circumferential direction over a longitudinal direction of the linear member.

A tube for medical instruments according to the present invention includes: a tubular member that is made of resin, a linear member that includes a metal wire member and a resin coating film that covers the metal wire member and that surrounds the tubular member outside the tubular member, and a polymeric elastomer layer that is laminated on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular member such that the polymeric elastomer layer fills in at least a part of an outer peripheral portion of the linear member in a circumferential direction over a longitudinal direction of the linear member.