Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for lubricious structures (also referred to simply as “structure”), methods of making lubricious structures, methods of using lubricious structures, and the like.

The present invention relates to coatings for devices such as medical devices that are useful for coating a variety of different types of material surfaces, including polymer and metal surfaces. The present invention also includes the method of using the coated device and methods to make the coated device and coating.

PURPOSE: The present invention provides a polyvinyl chloride resin composition which is superior in heat stability and processability and has less elution from the composition. CONSTITUTION: a polyvinyl chloride resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride resin, 10 to 120 parts by weight of di(2-ethylhexyl)terephthalate, and 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of epoxidized vegetable oil having a peroxide number of 5 or less.

Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include various configurations of the sheath that comprise an elongated tube having a disclosed composition that can form an outer jacket or a strain relief jacket or can be used as the outer layer of the sheath. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel and reduce the push force needed for passage of the medical device, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include various configurations of the sheath that comprise an elongated tube having a disclosed composition that can form an outer jacket or a strain relief jacket or can be used as the outer layer of the sheath. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel and reduce the push force needed for passage of the medical device, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

A catheter includes an elongate shaft extending longitudinally between a proximal portion defining a proximal end and a distal portion defining a distal end. A lumen extends through the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end. The shaft includes a heat-shielding layer and an outer layer adjacent the heat-shielding layer. The heat-shielding layer includes an inner liner layer adjacent the lumen and a heat-shielding layer adjacent the inner liner layer. In the distal portion, at least a section of the outer layer is radiopaque.

A catheter includes an elongate shaft extending longitudinally between a proximal portion defining a proximal end and a distal portion defining a distal end. A lumen extends through the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end. The shaft includes a heat-shielding layer and an outer layer adjacent the heat-shielding layer. The heat-shielding layer includes an inner liner layer adjacent the lumen and a heat-shielding layer adjacent the inner liner layer. In the distal portion, at least a section of the outer layer is radiopaque.

The invention relates to balloon coatings and their use in delivering drugs via a drug-eluting balloon. The delivery can be, e.g., to a vessel wall.

The invention relates to self-assembled organosilane- and small molecule drug-containing coatings for resorbable medical implant devices. The coatings can be prepared from precursor compositions containing an organosilane and a small molecule drug, and can be applied to substrates. Prior to applying the coatings, the surfaces of the substrates can be pretreated. The coatings can be functionalized with a binding compound that is coupled with an active component. The coatings can be applied using various techniques and apparatus, more particularly, by a deep-coating process conducted at ambient conditions.

The invention relates to a medical device delivery system comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end portion; an expandable member provided at the distal end portion of the shaft, the expandable member having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration; the expandable member being folded around the catheter shaft in its delivery configuration; characterized in that a coating is disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface area of the expandable member in its delivery configuration such that the coating does not cover portions of the expandable member located inside the folds of the expandable member in its delivery configuration; and an expandable medical device is mounted on the expandable member in the delivery configuration with the coating being disposed between the expandable member and the expandable medical device.