Medical articles formed from ionically bonding an ionic polymer and an active agent provide enhanced properties. The ionic polymer may be one or more of an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, and a zwitterionic polymer. The device may also include a nonionic polymer. Medical articles herein have antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or antithrombotic characteristics.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic sinusitis, including cystic fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neoplasia. The method involves administration, preferably oral, nasal or pulmonary administration, of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drugs (rapamycin or paclitaxel and their analogues) and an additive.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic sinusitis, including cystic fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neoplasia. The method involves administration, preferably oral, nasal or pulmonary administration, of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drugs (rapamycin or paclitaxel and their analogues) and an additive.

The invention disclosed herein generally provides implantable medical devices and implants that may be removed on-demand from a subject's body at any time after their implanting in the body, without necessitating invasive procedures.

A medical device includes an inflatable balloon defining an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a coating including a therapeutic agent disposed on the exterior surface of the inflatable balloon. The coating has a release transition temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 50° C. When the temperature of the coating is below the release transition temperature, the coating retains at least a portion of the therapeutic agent on the exterior of the inflatable balloon. When the temperature of the coating is above the release transition temperature, the coating releases at least a portion of the therapeutic agent from the exterior of the inflatable balloon.

A catheter assembly includes a hydrophilic catheter; a wetting fluid for wetting of the catheter; and a receptacle enclosing at least the insertable part of the catheter and the wetting fluid. The wetting fluid is a solution incorporating at least one osmolality-increasing compound, and the total concentration of the osmolality-increasing compound(s) preferably exceeds 600 mOsm/dm.sup.3. The wetting fluid could either be arranged in contact with the hydrophilic surface layer of the catheter in the receptacle, for preservation of the hydrophilic surface layer in a wetted state during accommodation in said receptacle and provision of a ready-to-use catheter assembly, or be arranged to keep the wetting fluid separated from the hydrophilic surface layer of the catheter during storage, but to be brought into contact with said hydrophilic surface layer upon activation before an intended use of the catheter.

Biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salts are made by exchanging biologically active ionic agents onto ion-exchange polymers. The activated polymers are uniquely surface active and stable to thermal degradation and chemical and other forms of decomposition. The activated ion-exchange polymer salts may be processed and combined with polymer precursors using novel methods and materials to produce stable, biologically activated polymer composites, including antimicrobial and antifouling polymer composites.

An endoscopic coating composition including a solid lubricant, a fluorine-containing surfactant, a thermosetting resin, and a solvent, a lubricating member provided by a coating treatment using the coating composition and being suitable as an endoscopic member, a method for producing the lubricating member, and an endoscopic flexible tube and an endoscope including the lubricating member.

Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that may be configured to prevent or reduce jamming (e.g., “anti-jamming” thrombectomy devices), grab clot, and/or macerate the thrombus, e.g., clot, being removed. These mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses may include a tractor comprising a flexible tube of material that inverts as it rolls over itself while being drawn into a catheter in a conveyor-like motion. In particular, described herein are mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses having tractors selectably extendable projections that may aid in grabbing and/or macerating a clot. Also described herein are seesawing tractors for mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses.

Use of 10H-benzo[g]pteridine-2,4-dione derivatives as photosensitizers in the inactivation of microorganisms.