Polymeric materials that are blends of polymers having differing water solubility rates are disclosed. The blends may be incorporated into at least a portion of a medical devices such as the shafts of flushable urinary catheters to provide suitable catheter stiffness/flexibility and catheter disintegration in water receptacles such as toilets. The blended material may provide the substrate of the catheter shaft or may provide one or more layers of the catheter.

A metal surgical instrument having improved corrosion resistance, wherein the surgical instrument is treated with a biocompatible polyphenyl ether-based polymeric coating.

A method of using a disposable catheter sleeve to prevent infection. A method of using an indwelling catheter apparatus including a catheter tube comprising a first end for insertion into a patient's body and a disposable catheter sleeve wrapped around the catheter tube proximate to the first end of the catheter tube to prevent infection.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for making resorbable ear tubes including the steps of providing a silk fibroin solution, and forming a silk ear tube from the silk fibroin solution, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbable. In some embodiments, the present invention also provides methods for treating otitis media including the step of introducing a silk ear tube into the ear canal of a subject, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbed by the subject.

The present invention relates to an elongate, flexible, medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible inner member; a support member extending around the inner member; a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each being braided with the support member; an outer member; and at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator comprising: at least one polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the inner member; and a plurality of electrodes circumferentially distributed about the exterior surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires, adjacent to the distal end thereof, is electrically connected to one of the electrodes, and the at least one polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

The present invention relates to an elongate, flexible, medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible inner member; a support member extending around the inner member; a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each being braided with the support member; an outer member; and at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator comprising: at least one polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the inner member; and a plurality of electrodes circumferentially distributed about the exterior surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires, adjacent to the distal end thereof, is electrically connected to one of the electrodes, and the at least one polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

The present invention relates to an elongate, flexible, medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible inner member; a support member extending around the inner member; a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each being braided with the support member; an outer member; and at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator comprising: at least one polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the inner member; and a plurality of electrodes circumferentially distributed about the exterior surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires, adjacent to the distal end thereof, is electrically connected to one of the electrodes, and the at least one polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

A medical member includes a base material that is permeable to light; and a polymer layer having a phosphorylcholine group and located at least at a part of an inner surface of the base material. The part of the inner surface includes a first area irradiated with light of an intensity capable of forming the polymer layer when irradiated with light of a predetermined intensity from an outer surface side of the base material. Another medical member includes a base material that is permeable to light; and a polymer layer having a phosphorylcholine group and located at least at a part of an inner surface of the base material. The inner surface of the base material is irradiated with light of a light intensity of 3 mW/cm.sup.2 or less when light of a light intensity of 15 mW/cm.sup.2 or less enters from an outer surface side of the base material.

Acinetobacter lysin polypeptides and variants peptides with killing activity against gram negative bacteria. Methods for treating bacterial infections or bacterial colonization using Acintobacter lysin polypeptides.

A balloon dilation catheter, a balloon (10) and preparation method therefor. The balloon (10) is prepared by co-mixing at least two of L25, TR55, TR90, and TR70, and has high puncture resistance and low compliance with respect to a balloon (10) made of a single nylon material. The balloon (10) is preferably a hollow multilayer structure, and the puncture resistance of the balloon (10) can be further improved and the compliance can be further reduced with respect to a single-layer structure.