Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

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.

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.

Hydrophilic coatings including a polymer matrix having voids wherein microparticles having a lubricious liquid are located within the voids.

Hydrophilic coatings including a polymer matrix having voids wherein microparticles having a lubricious liquid are located within the voids.

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.

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.

Catheters and a method of preparation thereof, the catheter comprising a catheter body, a juncture hub, extension lines and connectors, the catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, a tip region having a length of 10 cm measured from the distal end of the catheter body, and at least two lumen, each of the catheter body lumen having a proximal end, a distal end, a Lumen Aspect Ratio of at least 3:1, and an intraluminal surface, the distal ends of the at least two catheter body lumen being (i) non-coterminus or (ii) laser-cut, the exterior surface of the catheter body in the tip region or the intraluminal surface of the two catheter body lumen comprising a hydrophilic polymer layer having an Average Dry Thickness of at least about 50 nanometers.