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as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

A neurovascular catheter extension segment is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The neurovascular catheter extension segment includes 1) an elongate flexible control wire having a proximal end and a distal end and 2) a tubular extension segment having a side wall defining a central lumen carried by the distal end of the control wire. The side wall of the tubular extension segment includes a tubular inner liner, a tie layer separated from the lumen by the inner liner, a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, and an outer jacket surrounding the helical coil. The extension segment may be introduced into the proximal end of a neurovascular catheter and advanced distally to extend beyond the catheter and thereby extend the reach of the catheter.

Methods of reducing device drag on implantable articles are disclosed herein. The methods include coating the contact surfaces of implantable articles with bioabsorbable lubricating coatings.

The absorbent article of the invention has a liquid impervious backsheet and a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet. The topsheet has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin and hair of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the topsheet outer surface comprises an effective amount of a lotion coating which is semi-solid or solid at 20 degrees C., the lotion coating comprising: (i) from about 10 to about 95% of a substantially water free emollient having a plastic or fluid consistency at 20 degrees C. wherein the emollient contains 5% or less water, the emollient comprising a member selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, fatty acid ester emollients, alkyl ethoxylate emollients, and mixtures thereof; (ii) from about 5 to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing the emollient on the outer surface of the topsheet, the immobilizing agent being miscible with the emollient, the immobilizing agent having a melting point of at least about 35 degrees C. wherein the immobilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C14-C22 fatty acids, C14-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates with a degree of ethoxylation of 4 or less, and mixtures thereof.

Embodiments of the invention include lubricious medical device coatings. In an embodiment the invention includes a coating for a medical device including a first layer comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone derivatized with a photoreactive group; and a first cross-linking agent comprising at least two photoreactive groups; a second layer disposed on the first layer comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone derivatized with a photoreactive group; a second cross-linking agent comprising at least two photoreactive groups; and a polymer comprising polyacrylamide, the polymer derivatized with at least one photoreactive group. Other embodiments are included herein.

An implantable or insertable medical device can include a silicone substrate and a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition coating on the silicone substrate. The coating may include a silicon-containing compound. A method of forming the coating is also provided.

A method for implanting a medical device for implantation in a mammal joint. The method comprising the steps of creating an opening reaching from outside of the human body into the joint, providing said artificial contacting surface to said joint, fixating the artificial contacting surface to the joint, implanting said reservoir in the human body, and lubricating the artificial contacting surface with use of a lubricating fluid contained in said reservoir.

Methods for improving the wear performance of silicon nitride and/or other ceramic materials, particularly to make them more suitable for use in manufacturing biomedical implants.

A mixture of polymers with lubricating properties is provided. The polymer can be used to produce a lubricating fluid. They can also be born on a surface or embedded in a porous material. This mixture of polymers comprises (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable bottle-brush polymer comprising a backbone with polymeric pendant chains, and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable linear polymer. In the lubricating fluid, the bottle-brush polymer and the linear polymer are dissolved together in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent.

A condom for detection of STDs, including an interior condom surface having a control band and a test band, and an exterior condom surface that also has a control band and test band. Each test band allows binding and subsequent detection of STD antigens. A separate developing antibody produces a color change if bound to the antigen/antibody conjugate. The developing antibody may be present on the condom or applied separately after use.