A method of producing a ready-to-use medical device with a functional coating includes the steps of bringing the medical device, at least with its functional coating, in contact with a composition which prevents or retards degradation of the functional coating and sterilizing the medical device and the composition via radiation. A method leads to an improved product, namely an improved ready-to-use medical device which does not suffer a loss of quality during sterilization and storage. The composition comprises carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof and/or an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof.

Compositions and methods are described for preventing or reducing protein loss due to protein aggregation, denaturation, and absorption to surfaces. Also described are compositions and methods for preventing or reducing the fouling or clogging of medical devices that come into contact with blood, such as catheters. Also described are methods to treat diseases caused by activation of the microvasculature.

Methods of varying the stiffness of polymeric medical tubes.

The present invention is related to scoring or cutting balloon catheters carrying at least on a portion of their surface at least one drug or drug preparation and at least one lipophilic antioxidant at a ratio of 3-100% by weight of the at least one lipophilic antioxidant in relation to 100% by weight of the drug, wherein a combination of the at least one drug being a limus drug and the at least one lipophilic antioxidant being butylated hydroxytoluene is excluded.

A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof. A second alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof. The use of the compositions for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device from reactive species generated during exposure of radiation, and a wetting agent comprising the compositions, are also provided. The wetting agent prevents or retards the hydrolytic degradation of the coating during the intended shelf-life of the wetted coated product.

The present invention relates to methods for making wear and oxidation resistant polymeric materials by high temperature melting. The invention also provides methods of making medical implants containing cross-linked antioxidant-containing tough and ductile polymers and materials used therewith also are provided.

A radiation-resistant resin additive that contains, as an effective ingredient, a bisphenol compound as indicated by General Formula (1) below, or General Formula (2) below, as well as a radiation-resistant medical polyamide resin composition comprising the foregoing bisphenol compound and an amide resin, and a radiation-resistant medical molded article fabricated using the foregoing radiation-resistant medical polyamide resin composition.

##STR00001##

(In the Formula, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 respectively may be the same or different and indicate a hydrogen atom or a saturated hydrocarbon group having not less than 1 carbon.)

##STR00002##

(In the Formula, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 respectively may be the same or different and indicate a hydrogen atom or a saturated hydrocarbon group having not less than 1 carbon.)

The present invention is related to scoring or cutting balloon catheters carrying at least on a portion of their surface at least one oxidation-insensitive drug or oxidation-insensitive polymer-free drug preparation and at least one lipophilic antioxidant at a ratio of 3-100% by weight of the at least one lipophilic antioxidant in relation to 100% by weight of the drug, wherein the at least one oxidation-insensitive drug is selected of taxanes, thalidomide, statins, corticoids and lipophilic derivatives of corticoids, and the at least one lipophilic antioxidant is selected of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, resveratrol and propyl gallate.

Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices are prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlayer balloon, encasing the web with a matrix material to form an assembly, and inserting the assembly into a preformed outer layer balloon to form the composite balloon.

Catheters adapted for use in small body vessels are described. A catheter includes an elongate shaft having a main body that defines first and second lumens. An inner tubular member is disposed in the second lumen and is formed of a material that has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the material forming the main body.