A coating for an expandable portion of a catheter comprising a lipophilic matrix and a plurality of micro-reservoirs dispersed in the lipophilic matrix is disclosed. The plurality of micro-reservoirs comprises an active agent. A coating formulation and a method for forming the coating are also disclosed. A catheter comprising the coating on the expandable portion and a method for treating a condition are also provided.

A coating for an expandable portion of a catheter comprising a lipophilic matrix and a plurality of micro-reservoirs dispersed in the lipophilic matrix is disclosed. The plurality of micro-reservoirs comprises an active agent. A coating formulation and a method for forming the coating are also disclosed. A catheter comprising the coating on the expandable portion and a method for treating a condition are also provided.

Inserts can be formed with elution characteristics to cause the inserts to elute an antimicrobial agent when subject to a fluid within a medical device. An insert can be formed with a desired geometry to allow the insert to be compression fit within a medical device to prevent the insert from moving or becoming dislodged once inserted into the medical device. The material may also be hygroscopic so that the insert swells when subject to a fluid thereby enhancing the compression fit of the device within the medical device. In some cases, the material can be reinforced using an internal structure. Inserts can be formed in many ways including by casting, thermoforming, or extrusion. In some cases, the inserts can be formed using a peel-away sleeve or material. The peel-away sleeves can be formed of a non-sticky material which facilitates removal of the inserts once the inserts have cured.

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.

Inserts can be formed with elution characteristics to cause the inserts to elute an antimicrobial agent when subject to a fluid within a medical device. An insert can be formed with a desired geometry to allow the insert to be compression fit within a medical device to prevent the insert from moving or becoming dislodged once inserted into the medical device. The material may also be hygroscopic so that the insert swells when subject to a fluid thereby enhancing the compression fit of the device within the medical device. In some cases, the material can be reinforced using an internal structure. Inserts can be formed in many ways including by casting, thermoforming, or extrusion. In some cases, the inserts can be formed using a peel-away sleeve or material. The peel-away sleeves can be formed of a non-sticky material which facilitates removal of the inserts once the inserts have cured.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing reduced graphene oxide, incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex to provide a polyisoprene latex graphene composite and elastomeric articles prepared using the polyisoprene latex-graphene composite. In particular, the reduction of graphene oxide is accomplished without the use of strong reducing agents and organic solvents and incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex is accomplished using room temperature latex mixing method or hot maturation. The resultant composite exhibits good colloid stability and polyisoprene latex films produced from the composite exhibit good mechanical properties with improved ageing resistance.

A cable includes a sheath, and a coating film covering a circumference of the sheath. The coating film adheres to the sheath. The static friction coefficient of a surface of the coating film is smaller than the static friction coefficient of a surface of the sheath. The adhesion strength between the sheath and the coating film is 0.30 MPa or more.

Methods to produce thermoformed implants comprising poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer, copolymer, or blend thereof, including surgical meshes, have been developed. These thermoforms are preferably produced from porous substrates of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof, such as surgical meshes, by vacuum membrane thermoforming. The porous thermoformed implant is formed by placing a porous substrate of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof over a mold, covering the substrate and mold with a membrane, applying a vacuum to the membrane so that the membrane and substrate are drawn down on the mold and tension is applied to the substrate, and heating the substrate while it is under tension to form the thermoform. The method is particularly useful in forming medical implants of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof, including hernia meshes, mastopexy devices, breast reconstruction devices, and implants for plastic surgery, without exposing the resorbable implants to water and without shrinking the porous substrate during molding.

A cable includes a sheath, and a coating film covering a circumference of the sheath. The coating film adheres to the sheath. The static friction coefficient of a surface of the coating film is smaller than the static friction coefficient of a surface of the sheath. The adhesion strength between the sheath and the coating film is 0.30 MPa or more.