Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for accessing an internal body region using a catheter. The catheter includes a catheter body and a medication lumen positioned within the catheter body for delivering medication to the internal body region. An inflation lumen is positioned within the catheter body. A balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, and the balloon is configured to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position as fluid enters the balloon through the inflation lumen. An anchor covers at least a portion of the balloon on an outer surface of the catheter body and includes a movable section with a first retracted position and a second deployed position. Upon inflation of the balloon, the movable section of the anchor moves radially outward from the first contracted position to the second deployed position to secure the catheter in the internal body region.

The present invention provides materials and methods for forming an interface between an appliance and living tissue using a foamed elastomeric material which contacts the tissue or similar surfaces. The elastomeric material is in the form of a durable and washable material that when applied to living tissue or similar surfaces displaces and flows in to non-conforming areas creating an air and/or water tight seal that substantially returns to an original shape when removed from the contact surface. The appliance may also include structural elements designed to optimize comfort, compliance and seal achieved through minimizing the pressure variation along the contact surface of the therapy device.

A secondary manipulator device for positioning a distal portion of an elongated medical instrument inside a patient is disclosed. The secondary manipulator device includes a retaining member having a channel configured to receive therein an intermediate portion of the elongated medical instrument. The retaining member can include a lock comprising a seat against which the elongated medical instrument can rest and a resiliently deformable retention arm that is movable relative to the seat. The lock, when in the securing state, can retain the intermediate portion within the channel to allow translating and/or rotating of the distal portion.

Methods are provided for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer. The methods allow these rubber vulcanizate or thermoplastic elastomer objects to have a lubricating surface layer chemically fixed thereon, instead of having a resin coating which has drawbacks such as a reduction in lubricity due to e.g. separation or peeling of the coating during movement within a vessel or tract. The present invention relates to a method for surface-modifying an object made of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on a surface of the object; and step 2 of radically polymerizing a monomer starting from the polymerization initiation points by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm in the presence of an alkali metal salt to grow polymer chains on the surface of the object.

A tensile-force-enhancing tube for an implantable electrode lead or a catheter includes a tubular braid which is embedded in an elastomer material, wherein the braid comprises at least one cross thread and at least one axial thread.

Inventive concepts relate generally to the field of implantable urological devices, and more particularly to compositions that inhibit crystallization of urine components. Described are implantable urological devices including a surface and a crystallization inhibitor composition, the crystallization inhibitor composition including: (a) an inhibitor of urine component crystallization in combination with a biodegradable polymer, or a polyalkene homopolymer or copolymer, or (b) a biodegradable polymer that includes an inhibitor of urine component crystallization, wherein the crystallization inhibitor composition provides controlled release of the inhibitor of urine component crystallization from the surface of the device into a subject. Methods of making the implantable urological devices are also described.

Disclosed herein is an expandable introducer for a catheter. The expandable introducer generally includes an elongate, tubular body extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis. The elongate, tubular body generally includes an inner layer, and an outer layer where the inner layer and the outer layer form a wall structure configured to radially expand and contract as a medical device passes along the axis. At least one of the inner layer and the outer layer includes an elastomer. In some embodiments, the expandable introducer includes a reinforcing strut sandwiched between the inner and outer layers to provide additional mechanical benefits.

Disclosed is a catheter with an antimicrobial coating that reduces the development of device-associated urinary tract, respiratory and bloodstream infections and methods for making the same. The disclosed method comprises the layered application of one or more organic solutions to a coatable elastomeric product which results in a device that allows for a controlled time release of iodine therefrom. Application of one or more antitoxic agents in multiple layers and locations on the desired elastomeric product helps to tailor delivery and potency of the antimicrobial coating.

Some embodiments provided herein relate to methods, systems and kits for providing consistent intracoronary administration of a biologic to subjects having diverse coronary anatomies. In some embodiments, the biologic is an adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) vector encoding sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) protein.

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for accessing an internal body region using a catheter. The catheter includes a catheter body and a medication lumen positioned within the catheter body for delivering medication to the internal body region. An inflation lumen is positioned within the catheter body. A balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, and the balloon is configured to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position as fluid enters the balloon through the inflation lumen. An anchor covers at least a portion of the balloon on an outer surface of the catheter body and includes a movable section with a first retracted position and a second deployed position. Upon inflation of the balloon, the movable section of the anchor moves radially outward from the first contracted position to the second deployed position to secure the catheter in the internal body region.