A medical device with an expandable element and expandable tubular sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the expandable element which influences the rate, shape and/or force required to expand the expandable element and methods for use in a body lumen are provided.

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.

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.

A medical device for cooperating with a body surface of a patient includes an elastically deformable substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of pores extending from the first surface towards the second surface to define a plurality of spaced-apart projections. A lubricant is provided in the pores. Applying a compressive force to the substrate with the body surface elastically deforms the projections to displace the lubricant out of the pores and provide hydrodynamic lubrication between the medical device and the body surface.

Disclosed herein is a catheter comprising an outer conduit that comprises a first polymer; an inner conduit that comprises a second polymer; a structural support intermittently disposed in a region between the outer conduit and the inner conduit; where the structural support contacts the inner conduit and the outer conduit; where the structural support comprises a first biological agent that is released to a region outside the catheter via the outer conduit. Disclosed herein too is a method of using the catheter comprising disposing a catheter into a body of a living being; releasing the first biological agent into the organ in a first direction; and releasing a second biological agent into the organ in a second direction different from the first direction.

A simple, self-propelling particle system is disclosed that can deliver a cargo through flowing aqueous solutions. This disclosure provides a non-aqueous composition comprising: (i) particles formed of a carbonate salt and having an average diameter of about 100 μm or less; and (ii) an acid in solid form. The particles may be associated with a cargo molecule or particle. In mouse models of severe hemorrhage, the propelled particles are able to deliver a procoagulant enzyme and halt bleeding.

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.

Hydration mediums for hydrating hydrophilic coatings of urinary catheters and urinary catheter products containing such hydration mediums. Methods for making urinary catheter products having hydration mediums.

A film formation method is provided with a step for disposing a non-electroconductive long thin tube 102 in a chamber 101 in which the internal pressure thereof is adjustable, generating a plasma inside the long thin tube 102 in a state in which a starting material gas including a hydrocarbon is supplied, and forming a diamond-like carbon film on an inner wall surface of the long thin tube 102. The long thin tube 102 is disposed in the chamber 101 in a state in which a discharge electrode 125 is disposed in one end part of the long thin tube 102 and the other end part is open. An alternating-current bias is intermittently applied between the discharge electrode 125 and a counter electrode 126 provided so as to be separated from the long thin tube 102.

A simple, self-propelling particle system is disclosed that can deliver a cargo through flowing aqueous solutions. This disclosure provides a non-aqueous composition comprising: (i) particles formed of a carbonate salt and having an average diameter of about 100 μm or less; and (ii) an acid in solid form. The particles may be associated with a cargo molecule or particle. In mouse models of severe hemorrhage, the propelled particles are able to deliver a procoagulant enzyme and halt bleeding.