A Raman endoscope for use in obtaining in vivo Raman spectra in the peripheral airways of the lungs and a method of constructing the Raman endoscope are disclosed. The endoscope has a tubular sheath containing a fiber bundle. The sheath has an outer diameter of less than 1.35 mm. The sheath is made of fluorinated ethylene propylene. The sheath is flexible along its length from a first end to a point along the sheath so that it can navigate sharp turns within the peripheral airways. A layer of coating covers the sheath along a terminal length and a probe tip of the fiber bundle. The terminal length extends along a length of the sheath extending from a second end opposite to the first end to the point. Terminal length is rigid to facilitate advancement of the endoscope towards the lesion of interest. Terminal length is 5 mm or less.

An insertion set system includes a base configured to be secured to a patient, and a flexible tubing on the base. The flexible tubing has a distal end portion forming a cannula to be inserted into the patient. An inserter having a needle is received by the base. The needle has a channel in which the distal end portion of the flexible tubing is received. The needle is able to slide relative to the flexible tubing, to selectively withdraw the needle off of the distal end portion of the flexible tubing. The base may include a passage for fluid flow arranged transverse to the axial dimension of the distal end portion of the flexible tubing.

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.

Disclosed herein are PEG-maximin H5 peptide conjugates and methods for using the same in the treatment or prevention of biofilms and biofouling.

Durable, anti-fouling, crosslinked zwitterionic coatings that are grafted to the surface of a substrate through covalent bonding are disclosed. When exposed to a light source, zwitterionic monomers react with a crosslinker and with activated radicals at the surface of the substrate, simultaneously forming the crosslinked zwitterionic coating and anchoring it to the surface of the substrate. Photomasking techniques can be used to micropattern the zwitterionic coatings. The zwitterionic coatings can be applied to a variety of substrates, including medical devices and systems.

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.

The present invention provides a catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia.

The present invention provides a catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia.

A drug-releasing polymer composition is disclosed. It may include a major component, which may be ethylene vinyl acetate, and may further include at least one or two release-modifying materials, and may further include at least one or two drugs. The release-modifying materials may be polyethylene glycol and polycaprolactone. The drugs may be minocycline and rifampin. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two different release-modifying materials, drug release may be greater than with either release-modifying material alone. There may be an interaction such that in the presence of two drugs, drug release may be greater than with either drug alone, and antibacterial performance may be enhanced. Release durations as long as two months are possible. In addition, the composition can be provided on a medical device that is configured for implanting in body tissue for an extended time period.

Components of medical devices include polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymers (PE-g-PEO) in their base polymer formulations. The base polymeric formulations comprise at least a polymer or co-polymer of ethylene. These components are suitable for solvent-bonding with other components and enhance bond strength of the medical devices.