High strength biomedical materials and processes for making the same are disclosed. Included in the disclosure are nanoporous hydrophilic solids that can be extruded with a high aspect ratio to make high strength medical catheters and other devices with lubricious and biocompatible surfaces.

A medical device includes a structural element comprising an outer surface and a material on the outer surface of the structural element. The material defines void spaces containing a gas entrained within the void spaces. The material, upon contact with physiological fluid, is configured to release the gas in an amount sufficient for the gas to be imaged by ultrasound.

The present disclosure is directed toward composite materials comprising high aspect ratio habits of drug crystals which can be partially or fully extending into a substrate, and additionally, can be projecting from a substrate at an angle of about 20° to about 90°. The present disclosure is directed toward medical devices, such as medical balloons, comprising said composite and methods of using and making the same. The described composite can be used for the local treatment of vascular disease. The present disclosure is also directed toward paclitaxel crystals with a hollow acicular habit.

The present disclosure relates generally to materials and medical devices impregnated with antimicrobial compounds. More specifically, the materials are medical matrix materials comprising nanopores or nanochannels in which the antimicrobial compounds are disposed. In other embodiments, medical matrix materials comprises nanomaterials and antimicrobials distributed throughout the material. The materials described herein are useful for a broad spectrum of medical devices and consumer products. The present disclosure further provides methods of making the antimicrobial materials and medical devices disclosed herein.

An implantable bioreactor containing a barrier which is designed to allow the release of cell-derived biomolecules, but restricts the entry of immunologic and other cells, or the egress of the cells contained within the bioreactor. Two broad classes of implantable bioreactors are envisioned, encompassing devices for both systemic delivery of the bio-products and local delivery at the target tissue. Bioreactors of both classes can be implanted via surgery, through percutaneous techniques, or other techniques which effect implantation.

This invention pertains to systems and components useful for infusing medications such as insulin. Typically, the components are used to deliver insulin to a diabetic patient at a site of infusion over a period of time greater than 4 days. The system components typically comprise a cannula adapted for subcutaneous insertion into a diabetic patient. The system further comprises a fluid conduit adapted to deliver the insulin solution from a medication reservoir to the site of infusion and a depot in operable contact with the fluid conduit. The depot comprises selected materials including a site-loss mitigating agent (such as heparin) which inhibits inflammation at the site of infusion, and encapsulation of the cannula at the site of infusion. The site-loss mitigating agent is not premixed with the insulin, and instead is adapted to contact the insulin solution in the depot as the insulin solution flows from the medication reservoir to the site of infusion.

One embodiment is directed to a system for deploying a device to a distal location across a vessel, comprising an elongate introducer sheath tubing member comprising open-cell fibrous wall material defining a lumen therethrough, wherein in a collapsed configuration the sheath has a first cross-sectional outer diameter and a first lumen inner diameter, and in an expanded configuration, the sheath has a second cross-sectional outer diameter and a second lumen inner diameter; and a substantially non-porous expandable layer coupled to a proximal portion of sheath and configured to prevent fluids present in the lumen from crossing the fibrous wall material.

In various embodiments, a device is provided comprising a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being the same or greater than the first pressure. In various embodiments, a method comprising fabricating a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being at or greater than the first pressure, disposing the balloon on an elongate member having a lumen, placing the lumen in fluid communication with an interior volume of the balloon.

The invention provides compositions featuring chitosan and polyethylene glycol and methods for using such compositions for the local delivery of biologically active agents to an open fracture, complex wound or other site of infection. Advantageously, the chitosan-PEG compositions can be loaded with one or more antimicrobial agents, including hydrophobic agents, and can be tailored to the needs of particular patients at the point of care (e.g., in a surgical suite, clinic, physician's office, or other clinical setting).

An intravascular blood pump (P) comprises a catheter (5) and a pumping device (1) attached to a distal end (15) of the catheter (5). The blood pump (P) is advanced through a patient's blood vessel by means of the catheter (5). The catheter (5) has an elongate tubular body (10) and a porous three-dimensional structure (6) provided on at least a portion of the outer surface (8) of the catheter body (10) to promote adsorption of proteins and formation of an autologous graft (7) to prevent the catheter (5) from growing into the inner wall of the blood vessel. The porous three-dimensional structure (6) may be formed as a textile sleeve (6), preferably made of a warp knitted fabric.