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 system of topographic patterns for the prevention of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. The patterns may be provided on the surfaces of certain devices that are prone to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, such as urinary catheters. To reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, and to remove existing biofilms, the patterns are induced to transform from a first topography to a second topography. For example, the surface patterns may be formed from a shape memory polymer and then heated to transform the patterns from the first topography to the second topography to dislodge bacteria and prevent fouling.

The invention relates to a multi-layer balloon film material in which one or more layers of an elastically deforming material is/are combined with one or more layers of a plastically deforming non-elastic material, wherein the non-elastic layer counteracts the straightening properties of the elastic layer in the case of planar folds or bends in the balloon film material. In particular, the cross-sectional area of eyelet- or channel-shaped structures which conducts secretions or fluids, which structures typically occur in the area of wrinkle-like invaginations of a residually sized balloon film in an organ lumen or a body cavity, can be reduced and, particularly in the case of cyclically changing filling pressures of the balloon, can be stabilized in such a way that an optimally sealing closure or tamponade effect is achieved across the largest possible filling pressure amplitudes.

The present invention provides a biocompatible material improved in biocompatibility owing to adsorption of a peptide that has high adhesion with a resin and hardly separates from a surface of the resin, and a functional material including the biocompatible material. The biocompatible material includes a resin and a peptide adsorbed on the resin. The resin has methoxycarbonyl groups and methyl groups, and tryptophan or arginine accounts for 70% or more of amino acid residues in the peptide. As an alternative, the resin is a fluorinated resin, and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro-phenylalanine, 3-(trifluoromethyl)alanine, serine, threonine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, or aspartic acid accounts for 40% or more of the amino acid residues in the peptide. The functional material includes the biocompatible material, and a functional substance. The functional substance is held on a surface of the biocompatible material or is released from the surface of the biocompatible material.

An illuminated medical system comprises a medical instrument and a light transmitting waveguide. The waveguide projects lights from a distal portion of the waveguide toward a target area. The waveguide is formed primarily of a cyclic olefin copolymer or a cyclic olefin polymer.

A novel anti-microbial coating and uses thereof on medical devices are presented. The novel coating is comprised of a layer of boron carbon nitride (BCN) coated onto a medical device such as a catheter. The BCN coating was found to inhibit bacterial growth by at least 80% and reduce biofilm formation by at least 60% on the treated surface of the catheter. This coating can be used to reduce or prevent central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in patients as well as inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation on a variety of medical devices or polymeric surfaces.

A novel anti-microbial coating and uses thereof on medical devices are presented. The novel coating is comprised of a layer of boron carbon nitride (BCN) coated onto a medical device such as a catheter. The BCN coating was found to inhibit bacterial growth by at least 80% and reduce biofilm formation by at least 60% on the treated surface of the catheter. This coating can be used to reduce or prevent central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in patients as well as inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation on a variety of medical devices or polymeric surfaces.

Certain embodiments relate to a soft odor barrier material in a medical device. The soft odor barrier material includes an elastomer and an antiblocking agent. In certain forms, the antiblocking agent imparts an interior rough surface having an arithmetic mean surface roughness (Ra) not less than 0.1 μm. In certain forms, the antiblocking agent is non-blocking upon folding and packaging.

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

An elongate, flexible, medical device having distal and proximal ends, including an inner member having a proximal and distal end, a support member extending around the inner member between the proximal and distal end, a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each braided with the support member having a proximal and distal end, an outer member surrounding the inner member, the support member, and the plurality of electrically-conductive wires and an actuator including a polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the elongate, flexible inner member and defining an exterior surface, electrodes distributed about the exterior of the polymer electrolyte layer. The distal end of one of the electrically-conductive wires is electrically connected to one of the electrodes. The polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to the plurality of electrodes.