A method of producing a medical device having a substrate and a hydrophilic polymer layer, including the steps of: pretreating the substrate by placing the substrate in an alkali solution and heating the substrate at a temperature ranging from 50° C. to 100° C.; and heating a solution containing the pretreated substrate, a hydrophilic polymer having an acidic group and a hydroxyalkyl group, and an organic acid at a temperature ranging from 50° C. to 100° C. Provided is a simple method of producing a medical device imparted with hydrophilicity excellent in durability.

A method of producing a medical device having a substrate and a hydrophilic polymer layer, including the steps of: pretreating the substrate by placing the substrate in an alkali solution and heating the substrate at a temperature ranging from 50° C. to 100° C.; and heating a solution containing the pretreated substrate, a hydrophilic polymer having an acidic group and a hydroxyalkyl group, and an organic acid at a temperature ranging from 50° C. to 100° C. Provided is a simple method of producing a medical device imparted with hydrophilicity excellent in durability.

The invention relates to a balloon catheter (1) to be introduced into the blood vessel system of the human or animal body, said catheter having a longitudinally extending shaft (2), with the balloon catheter (1) comprising a distal portion (A) in which a balloon (3) is arranged that is expandable by the supply of a fluid through a lumen (9) extending through the shaft (2), with the distal tip (8) of the balloon catheter (1) being provided with a coating consisting of a hydrogel (7). The invention provides a balloon catheter (1) capable of easily passing through constricted areas in blood vessels.

A hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drug and biological material to tissue or organ sites. More specifically, a hydrogel binding matrix having a biopolymer backbone containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may be substituted for at least a portion of the carboxyl groups, so that, when hydrogen peroxide is added, it causes creation of covalent bonds between tyramine molecules and cross-links the hydrogel binding matrix, thereby enabling the hydrogel binding matrix to transition from liquid to gel state. The hydrogel binding matrix, in its liquid form, is capable of encapsulating drug reservoirs to create a homogenous liquid with evenly distributed particles containing drugs or target molecules. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies into a gel state, the newly created cross-links do not disrupt or react with the drugs or target molecules contained within the drug reservoirs. This hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle can be used in several medical applications.

An anti-bacterial coating composition for use with a medical implant is disclosed. The anti-bacterial coating composition includes a bacteriophage cocktail that is encapsulated in beads that are embedded within a hydrogel. Also disclosed are kits containing the anti-bacterial coating composition as well as methods of producing and using the coating composition.

The present invention is an inflatable balloon which is enclosed by an expandable cover which becomes increasingly porous/permeable during expansion. The balloon is coated or enclosed with a matrix which contains a pharmaceutically active agent. During expansion of the balloon, the pharmaceutically active agent is released or extruded through the expandable cover into a body cavity such as an artery or vein. The present invention also provides for a method of treating a disease or condition by delivering the inflatable balloon to a particular body cavity.

A hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drug and biological material to tissue or organ sites. More specifically, a hydrogel binding matrix having a biopolymer backbone containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may be substituted for at least a portion of the carboxyl groups, so that, when hydrogen peroxide is added, it causes creation of covalent bonds between tyramine molecules and cross-links the hydrogel binding matrix, thereby enabling the hydrogel binding matrix to transition from liquid to gel state. The hydrogel binding matrix, in its liquid form, is capable of encapsulating drug reservoirs to create a homogenous liquid with evenly distributed particles containing drugs or target molecules. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies into a gel state, the newly created cross-links do not disrupt or react with the drugs or target molecules contained within the drug reservoirs. This hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle can be used in several medical applications.

This invention disclosed medical catheters with surface hydrophilic coatings. Said catheters were grafted with a thin layer of zwitterions, which forms lubricious water layer when contacted with human body liquids or other water solutions, to lower the surface friction and mechanical damage to human body. One benefit of the present invention is due to the excellent biocompatibility and tight bonding between modification material and catheter substrate, the modification will stably stay on the substrate during usage, to avoid the potential side effects caused by lubricants. This modification can be applied to multiple material surfaces, including but not limited to silicone rubber, polyurethane, rubber, polyetheretherketone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, ABS (Acylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), and polycarbonate.

A device for endovascular treatment to ameliorate aneurysm recurrences by deploying a treatment mesh having a plurality of vertically oriented elongated support reinforcement elements that are substantially parallel and oriented upon a plane in communication with the mesh. Upon deployment, the array of distal ends of the support extensions and reinforcements are substantially oriented upon a plane, which plane is in substantially the same orientation as the opening of the aneurysm into which the device was deployed. The treatment mesh may incorporate a coating of hydrogel, optionally impregnated with pharmaceutical compounds.

A novel therapeutic agent delivery system, methods of use and methods of formation thereof are presented. The novel delivery system is comprised of novel nanoparticles capable of at least partially encapsulating a therapeutic agent such as an anesthetic, antimicrobial, growth factor or protein. The nanoparticles are embedded with in a crosslinked hydrogel. The hydrogel can be administered directly to a patient or may be coated onto a device such as a catheter. The delivery system allows for a sustained release of the therapeutic agent over an extended period of time.