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.

A medical wound healing accelerator having a body that is removably attached on a fixing pin, of an external fixator for fractures, that is insertable into a bone through skin is provided. The device can further include a plurality of light source units arranged on one surface of the body to emit light and provide a beneficial effect to the wound, and a controller electrically connected to the light source units. An osteomyelitis treatment device having an insert that is insertable into an osteomyelitis part in a human body, and a plurality of light-emitting members provided to the insert to emit light is also provided. The plurality of light-emitting members can be spaced apart from each other, and a part of the insert can be cut or bent to correspond to the shape of the osteomyelitis part.

A medical wound healing accelerator having a body that is removably attached on a fixing pin, of an external fixator for fractures, that is insertable into a bone through skin is provided. The device can further include a plurality of light source units arranged on one surface of the body to emit light and provide a beneficial effect to the wound, and a controller electrically connected to the light source units. An osteomyelitis treatment device having an insert that is insertable into an osteomyelitis part in a human body, and a plurality of light-emitting members provided to the insert to emit light is also provided. The plurality of light-emitting members can be spaced apart from each other, and a part of the insert can be cut or bent to correspond to the shape of the osteomyelitis part.

Described herein are polymeric particles configured for intravascular delivery of pharmaceutical agents, e.g., to a diseased site, and methods of forming and using same. Preparation of these polymer particles is also described.

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.

A method of manufacturing a latex rubber article comprises providing a former wherein at least a part of the former comprises a mould surface that forms the shape of the latex rubber article, and applying liquid latex to the mould surface using an applicator that is configured to apply the liquid latex to an applicator area that is smaller than the mould surface. The method further comprises providing relative movement between the applicator and the former to produce a latex coating that covers the mould surface, curing the latex coating on the former to form the latex rubber article, and removing the latex rubber article from the former.

A soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the soluble needle (100) comprises a fixing plate (30) and a plurality of micro-needles (20) made of water-soluble polymers arranged on the fixing plate (30), wherein each of said micro-needle (20) comprises a needle wall (21) to penetrate scalps and a needle cavity (22) confined by the needle wall (21) and configured for accommodating a hair follicle. A method of manufacturing a soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the method includes: dissolving water-soluble polymers in water to prepare a molding solution (S101); delivering the molding solution into a mold (S102); letting the molding solution settle in the mold to shape (S103); and separating and removing the mold to produce the soluble needle (S104). The soluble needle (100) effectively shortens the time of surgery, reduces the pain of the patients, and increases the viability rate of transplanted hair follicles.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.

Provided is a microneedle patch comprising a substrate part and multiple needle parts protruding from the substrate part. The substrate part consists of a diffusion-proof layer and a base, and each needle part consists of a needle tip, a diffusion-proof layer and a base. The diffusion-proof layer of each needle part is formed between the needle tip and the base of the corresponding needle part. The diffusion-proof layer of the substrate part and the diffusion-proof layer of needle part are one-piece structures, and so are the base of the substrate part and the base of the needle part. The diffusion-proof layer of the microneedle patch can prevent the active ingredients from diffusing to the base, limit the active ingredients to the needle tip and control the carrying quantity thereof.

Antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend, compounds, coatings, and materials containing the same, as well as articles made with, or coated with the same, and methods of making the same exhibiting improved antimicrobial properties and reduced platelet adhesion. Embodiments include polymers with antimicrobial and antithrombogenic groups bound to a single polymer backbone, an antimicrobial polymer blended with an antithrombogenic polymer, and medical devices coated with the antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend.