Novel, lubricious antimicrobial coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes at low temperatures that do not deform the device and preserves the antimicrobial effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

A medical appliance or prosthesis may comprise one or more layers of rotational spun nanofibers, including rotational spun polymers. The rotational spun material may comprise layers including layers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Rotational spun nanofiber mats of certain porosities may permit tissue ingrowth into or attachment to the prosthesis. Additionally, one or more cuffs may be configured to allow tissue ingrowth to anchor the prosthesis.

Composite nerve guides for nerve regeneration are provided, wherein the composite guide comprise a nerve graft and a nerve conduit continuing an active agent that promote axon regeneration. The devices can provide structural supports to guide nerve regeneration and locally deliver an active agent (e.g., glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and/or glial growth factor 2 (GGF2) to injured nervous system tissue upon implantation in a subject. Methods of treatment using such devices are also provided.

The invention relates to an antibacterial implant coating composition including a graft copolymer comprising a (meth)acrylic acid-based backbone and phosphonate side chains, wherein at least one phosphonate side chain is linked to a guanidine oligomer through an N—P bond.

A processing technique for creating nanowires and hierarchically porous micro/nano structures of ceramic materials is provided. The process includes evaporation of micron-sized water droplets containing dissolved organic salts on heated substrates followed by thermal decomposition of the deposited material. The micron-sized droplets may be generated by supercritical CO.sub.2 assisted nebulization, in which high-pressure streams of aqueous solution and supercritical CO.sub.2 are mixed, followed by controlled depressurization through a fine capillary. Rapid evaporation takes place on the heated substrates and structures are generated due to CO.sub.2 effervescence from the droplets and evaporation of water, along with the pinning of the three phase contact line. Depending on the mass deposited, a mesh of nano-wires or membrane-like structures may result. Sintering of the membrane-like scaffolds above the decomposition temperature of the organic salt creates nanopores within the structures, creating a dual hierarchy of pores.

Methods and devices are provided for promoting wound healing. In general, surgical staplers and stapler components are provided having a coating thereon that is configured to selectively control an interaction between at least one matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor and an outer surface of the stapler or stapler component.

A medical implant for cartilage and/or bone repair at an articulating surface of a joint is provided. The implant includes a contoured implant body and at least one extending post. The implant body has an articulating surface configured to face the articulating part of the joint and a bone contact surface configured to face the bone structure of a joint, where the articulating and bone contact surfaces face mutually opposite directions and the bone contact surface is provided with the extending post. A cartilage contact surface connects the articulating and the bone contact surfaces and is configured to contact the cartilage surrounding the implant body in a joint. The articulating surface has a layer that is formed of titanium nitride (TiN) as the wear-resistant material. The cartilage contact surface has a coating that is formed of a material having chondrointegration properties.

The invention relates to a medical device comprising at least one acellular biological matrix and at least one polymer, as well as to a method for manufacturing same and to the use thereof as a medical device or as an implant.

A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device comprising an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof. A second alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof. The use of the compositions for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device from reactive species generated during exposure of radiation, and a wetting agent comprising the compositions, are also provided. The wetting agent prevents or retards the hydrolytic degradation of the coating during the intended shelf-life of the wetted coated product.

Biocompatible compositions, in particular for the preparation of a biodegradable coating for medical articles, include a biocompatible thickening polymer and a chitosan derivative comprising D-glucosamine units of the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein X is an alditolic or aldonic polyol residue of the following formula (II):

##STR00002##

wherein: R is CH.sub.2 or CO; R1 is hydrogen, a monosaccharide moiety or an oligosaccharide moiety; R2 is OH or NHCOCH.sub.3.

The present invention also relates to uses of the disclosed compositions, to a kit of parts including a composition in powder form and to a method for the preparation of a biocompatible composition in gel form.

The biodegradable coating shows a good and long-lasting adhesion to the surface of a medical article and allows to improve both the coating operations and the effectiveness in preventing any biofilm formation on the medical article.