An improved material, preferably a biomaterial, is provided which is the reaction product of S.sub.8 and a free fatty acid or free fatty acid-containing material, preferably in the presence of metal. The improved material can be made by a method comprising reacting S.sub.8 with a free fatty acid to obtain a FFA/S.sub.8 composite and shaping the FFA/S.sub.8 composite into a solid form. The solid form of said FFA/S.sub.8 is melted to form melted FFA/S.sub.8 and the melted FFA/S.sub.8 is optionally applied as a coating on a surface, used as an adjacent material to a surface or the FFA/S.sub.8 composite itself is shaped thereby forming a device and preferably a medical device.

The present invention provides compositions for extended release of an active ingredient, comprising a lipid-saturated matrix formed from a biodegradable polymer. The present invention also provides methods of producing the matrix compositions and methods for using the matrix compositions to provide controlled release of an active ingredient in the body of a subject in need thereof.

A material for a bone implant contains: (a) a carrier structure has a surface that has at least one biocompatible material; (b) a matrix covalently bound to the surface; and (c) calcium phosphate embedded in the matrix. A medically acceptable, highly compatible and versatile material can be provided, if the matrix has at least one polysaccharide (formula (I)).

Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes a low temperatures that do not deform the device. 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.

The present disclosure provides a coating apparatus and method for applying a coating of a therapeutic agent, comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, a thermal source for vaporizing the therapeutic agent, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the device compartment.

A disposable coating applicator container for applying a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object to be coated. The disposable coating applicator container includes a sealable container, the sealable container having a container bottom, the container bottom having upwardly extending walls, each upwardly extending wall terminating in an upper edge, and a closure for sealing a device compartment formed in part by the upwardly extending walls, the closure adjacent to the upper edges of the upwardly extending walls; and a therapeutic agent positioned in fluid communication with the device compartment, wherein the disposable coating applicator container comprises a flexible material and is in the form of a bag-like structure.

The present disclosure provides a coating applicator operable to apply a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, an atomizer operable to atomize the therapeutic agent, and a source of vacuum in communication with the device compartment. The coating applicator may further comprise a drier, and the drier may comprise an arrangement to operate the source of vacuum for a time sufficient to promote drying of applied therapeutic agent. Deposition of the atomized therapeutic agent may be promoted by contacting the atomized therapeutic agent while the object is in a chilled condition and by contacting the object with atomized therapeutic agent while the atomized therapeutic agent is in a heated condition. Related methods are also disclosed.

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 method and material composition of a highly porous material that is applied to an object, such as a biomaterial implant and biomedical device, is described. The method involves forming a bijel mixture that is exposed to at least an outer surface of an object. Thereafter, a precursor is added to the bijel mixture to allow the precursor to transport into a particular liquid phase of the bijel mixture. After at least partial transport, the precursor-containing liquid phase of the bijel mixture is solidified to form a bijel-templated material (BTM) that is bonded to a surface of the object.

The present invention is directed to a unique technology for preparing a growth-factor free, cylindrical, hydrogel implant that has multiple (three or more) longitudinal hydrogel zones with varying chemical and physical properties. The implant may be wholly made of hydrogels or the hydrogels may be associated with cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).