Introduced here are methods, apparatuses, and systems for mitigating the contact pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, a controller can vary the contact pressure on the human body by controllably inflating one or more chambers, deflating one or more chambers, or any combination thereof. By monitoring the pressure in each chamber over time, the controller can also gain an enhanced understanding of movement(s) performed by the human body when positioned on the pressure-mitigation apparatus.

The present disclosure provides a mold for molding a polyurethane condom, and methods for manufacturing and using the mold. The mold (200) has a surface roughness of 0.2 or less, is formed from a thermoplastic polymer having a surface tension of 10-35 mN/m. The mold (200) for molding a polyurethane condom is prepared by injection molding the thermoplastic polymer. When the mold (200) is used, the mold (200) is hung vertically and dipped in an emulsion containing a polyurethane resin to obtain a dipped mold (200), then the dipped mold (200) is removed and dried to form a polyurethane film on its surface, and then demolded to obtain a polyurethane condom (100). The condom formed by the mold (200) is thin and has excellent flexibility and strength, satisfying the market demand for the product.

Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for forming the metal oxide nanostructure on surfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the nanostructures can be formed on a substrate made of a nickel titanium alloy, resulting in a nanostructure that can include both titanium oxide and nickel oxide. The nanostructure can be formed on the surface(s) of an implantable medical device, such as a stent.

The present disclosure is directed to a class of fluorinated copolymers, such as PTFE copolymers, that can be dissolved in low toxicity solvents, such as Class III Solvents, and that enable the creation of stable water-in-solvent emulsions comprising the fluorinated copolymers dissolved in a low toxicity solvents and a hydrophilic agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) dissolved in an aqueous solvent, such as water or saline.

Medical devices, such as orthopedic medical implants, and corresponding methods of applying a porous coating to the medical device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical device may include a plurality of texture features extending from a base surface, and a porous coating applied into and atop of the plurality of texture features and the base surface. The porous coating may include a plurality of coating structures, wherein a first coating structure group of the plurality of coating structures has a first size, wherein a second coating structure group of the plurality of coating structures has a second size, and wherein the first size is different than the second size.

Provided are a flexible tube for an endoscope, the flexible tube having a flexible-tube base that is flexible and tubular and a polyester elastomer layer that covers the flexible-tube base and has a naphthalene structure in a soft segment, an endoscopic medical device having the flexible tube for an endoscope, a method for producing a covering material constituting the flexible tube for an endoscope, and a method for producing the flexible tube for an endoscope.

This disclosure provides a method for improving maturation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a patient in need of hemodialysis, which method entails applying a solution to the internal wall of a lumen of an AVF; and restoring or initiating blood flow in the AVF, wherein the solution comprises an effective amount of a synthetic proteoglycan comprises a glycan having from about 1 to about 80 collagen-binding peptide(s) bonded to the glycan. Also provided are methods for preparing a vascular graft for a bypass surgery, comprising contacting the internal wall of a section of a blood vessel with a solution comprising an effective amount of the synthetic proteoglycan.

A biomaterial including a porous biocompatible structure having interconnected pores, wherein the pores have interior walls and are interconnected by passageways, the interior walls and passageways being coated with an osteoinductive aqueous demineralized bone extract solution, the aqueous demineralized bone extract solution including growth factors, proteins, a demineralized bone matrix and at least one of a weak acid and a guanidine hydrochloride, wherein the demineralized bone matrix is present per 100 g of the solution in an amount of from about 2 g to about 10 g.

A coating with strong adhesion for medical magnesium alloys, including a magnesium phosphate or calcium phosphate layer as an inner layer and a hydrophobic polymer layer as an outer layer. The inner layer is attached to the medical magnesium alloy; and the outer layer is attached to the inner layer. A preparation method of the coating is also provided, including: (S1) carrying out surface treatment on a medical magnesium alloy substrate; (S2) preparing a solution including magnesium salt/calcium salt and phosphoric acid/phosphate followed by pH adjustment and heating; (S3) soaking the medical magnesium alloy substrate in the solution followed by washing and drying to obtain a magnesium phosphate/calcium phosphate layer-coated medical magnesium alloy sample; and (S4) depositing a hydrophobic polymer layer on the medical magnesium alloy sample through chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

An article or vessel is described including a vessel surface and a coating set comprising at least one tie coating, at least one barrier coating, and at least one pH protective coating. For example, the coating set can comprise a tie coating, a barrier coating, a pH protective coating and a second barrier coating; and in the presence of a fluid composition, the fluid contacting surface is the barrier coating or layer. The respective coatings can be applied by PECVD of a polysiloxane precursor. Such vessels can have a coated interior portion containing a fluid with a pH of 4 to 8. The barrier coating prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic vessel, and the tie coating and pH protective coating together protect the barrier layer from the contents of the vessel. The second barrier coating is comparable to glass surface if needed.