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.

The present invention relates to antimicrobial materials comprising copper and zinc incorporated into or coated on a substrate material, wherein the substrate comprises a rubber component. The present invention also relates to methods of obtaining said antimicrobial materials.

The present invention relates to antimicrobial materials comprising copper and zinc incorporated into or coated on a substrate material, wherein the substrate comprises a rubber component. The present invention also relates to methods of obtaining said antimicrobial materials.

The present disclosure is directed toward a composite balloon comprising a layer of material having a porous microstructure (e.g., ePTFE or expanded polyethylene) and a thermoplastic polymeric layer useful for medical applications. The layers of the composite balloons become adhered through a stretch blow-molding process. Methods of making and using such composite balloons are also described amongst others.

An example medical device includes a vascular device, such as a catheter, and an anti-thrombogenic coating on a surface of the vascular device, such as a surface likely to contact blood. The anti-thrombogenic coating includes one or more peptides configured to interact with fibrinogen in the blood, such as a first type of peptides configured to bind to fibrinogen a second type of peptides configured to inhibit conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. The anti-thrombogenic coating also includes a polymer, such as a hydrocolloid polymer, a tunable polyethylene glycol (PEG), or other controlled release polymer configured to control release of the one or more peptides and maintain a concentration of the peptides at the surface of the anti-thrombogenic coating above a minimum inhibitory concentration, thereby inhibiting thrombin formation on the intravascular medical device.

A drug-releasing polymer composition is disclosed. It may include a major component, which may be ethylene vinyl acetate, and may further include at least one or two release-modifying materials, and may further include at least one or two drugs. The release-modifying materials may be polyethylene glycol and polycaprolactone. The drugs may be minocycline and rifampin. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two different release-modifying materials, drug release may be greater than with either release-modifying material alone. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two drugs, drug release may be greater than with either drug alone, and antibacterial performance may be enhanced. Release durations as long as two months are possible. In addition, the composition can be provided on a medical device that is configured for implanting in body tissue for an extended time period.

A drug-releasing polymer composition is disclosed. It may include a major component, which may be ethylene vinyl acetate, and may further include at least one or two release-modifying materials, and may further include at least one or two drugs. The release-modifying materials may be polyethylene glycol and polycaprolactone. The drugs may be minocycline and rifampin. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two different release-modifying materials, drug release may be greater than with either release-modifying material alone. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two drugs, drug release may be greater than with either drug alone, and antibacterial performance may be enhanced. Release durations as long as two months are possible. In addition, the composition can be provided on a medical device that is configured for implanting in body tissue for an extended time period.

A method, system and device for securing conductive material on catheter elements for tissue sensing and cryogenic ablation. This may be used to deposit or embed conductive material onto or within polymeric materials. The method of manufacturing a balloon with conductive material may include extruding a polymeric material where the polymeric material includes embedded electrically conductive material. At least a portion of the polymeric material may be removed to expose at least a portion of the embedded electrically conductive material. The benefits may include allowing local bipolar recordings, contact assessment and ice thickness, and compatibility with 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping systems.

PURPOSE: The present invention provides a polyvinyl chloride resin composition which is superior in heat stability and processability and has less elution from the composition. CONSTITUTION: a polyvinyl chloride resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride resin, 10 to 120 parts by weight of di(2-ethylhexyl)terephthalate, and 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil having a peroxide number of 5 or less.

Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include various configurations of the sheath that comprise an elongated tube having a disclosed composition that can form an outer jacket or a strain relief jacket or can be used as the outer layer of the sheath. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel and reduce the push force needed for passage of the medical device, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.