Abstract: A device for the delivery of an agent to an intestinal site has a backing element, a mucoadhesive element for adhering the device to the intestinal site, and a reservoir comprising the agent. The mucoadhesive element includes a polymer, an opposing surface having the capacity to adhere to the intestinal site, and a population of passageway(s) extending from the reservoir to the opposing surface for delivery of the agent from the reservoir to the intestinal site, each of the passageway(s) having a minimum diameter greater than 10 microns, the diameter being determined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy after 30 minutes of hydration at 20° C. in phosphate buffered saline at pH 6.5.

Abstract: A device for the delivery of an agent to an intestinal site has a backing element, a mucoadhesive element for adhering the device to the intestinal site, and a reservoir comprising the agent. The mucoadhesive element includes a polymer, an opposing surface having the capacity to adhere to the intestinal site, and a population of passageway(s) extending from the reservoir to the opposing surface for delivery of the agent from the reservoir to the intestinal site, each of the passageway(s) having a minimum diameter greater than 10 microns, the diameter being determined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy after 30 minutes of hydration at 20° C. in phosphate buffered saline at pH 6.5.

Abstract: Polymers having mechanical properties approaching or exceeding commercial elastomers and engineering thermoplastics, but improved biostability, are described herein. In one embodiment, the polymers have a hard segment containing one or more disulfoxide or disulfone moieties and a soft segment connected to the hard segment to form an elastomeric polymer. The polymer is resistant to oxidation and/or hydrolytic degradation, particularly in vivo, which allows for the use of these materials in implants/devices which are implanted for an extended period of time. The ratio or percentage by weight of soft segment to hard segment can be varied based on the physical and mechanical properties of the desired device.

Abstract: A device for the delivery of an agent to an intestinal site has a backing element, a mucoadhesive element for adhering the device to the intestinal site, and a reservoir comprising the agent. The mucoadhesive element includes a polymer, an opposing surface having the capacity to adhere to the intestinal site, and a population of passageway(s) extending from the reservoir to the opposing surface for delivery of the agent from the reservoir to the intestinal site, each of the passageway(s) having a minimum diameter greater than 10 microns, the diameter being determined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy after 30 minutes of hydration at 20° C. in phosphate buffered saline at pH 6.5.

Abstract: A method for preparing and resulting articles of manufacture comprising a substrate having a surface, a bulk beneath the surface, and a grafted polymer layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface and the grafted polymer layer, in combination, constituting a modified surface having a fibrinogen adsorption of less than about 125 ng/cm2 in a fibrinogen binding assay in which the modified surface is incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. in 70 ?g/mL fibrinogen derived from human plasma containing 1.4 ?g/mL I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen.

Abstract: Polymers having mechanical properties approaching or exceeding commercial elastomers and engineering thermoplastics, but improved biostability, are described herein. In one embodiment, the polymers have a hard segment containing one or more disulfoxide or disulfone moieties and a soft segment connected to the hard segment to form an elastomeric polymer. The polymer is resistant to oxidation and/or hydrolytic degradation, particularly in vivo, which allows for the use of these materials in implants/devices which are implanted for an extended period of time. The ratio or percentage by weight of soft segment to hard segment can be varied based on the physical and mechanical properties of the desired device.

Abstract: A device for the delivery of an agent to an intestinal site has a backing element, a mucoadhesive element for adhering the device to the intestinal site, and a reservoir comprising the agent. The mucoadhesive element includes a polymer, an opposing surface having the capacity to adhere to the intestinal site, and a population of passageway(s) extending from the reservoir to the opposing surface for delivery of the agent from the reservoir to the intestinal site, each of the passageway(s) having a minimum diameter greater than 10 microns, the diameter being determined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy after 30 minutes of hydration at 20° C. in phosphate buffered saline at pH 6.5.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to articles of manufacture, such as medical devices, having a non-fouling surface comprising a grafted polymer material. The surface resists the adhesion of biological material.

Abstract: A magnetic closure system is provided that includes closure members that mate which each other along an elongated seam. The closure members comprise a plurality of magnetic pairs spaced along the elongated seam. The magnetic components are aligned with corresponding pairs, such that an upper contact surface of a first component is attracted to the upper contact surface of a second component via magnetic attraction, e.g., the first component and the second component configured with opposing polarity to provide magnetic attraction therebetween. In this manner, the closure system resists unintended separation.

Abstract: Medical devices having a wettable, biocompatible surface are described herein. Processes for producing such devices are also described.

Abstract: A magnetic closure system is provided that includes closure members that mate which each other along an elongated seam. The closure members comprise a plurality of magnetic pairs spaced along the elongated seam. The magnetic components are aligned with corresponding pairs, such that an upper contact surface of a female component is attracted to the upper contact surface of the male component via magnetic attraction, e.g., the male component and the female component configured with opposing polarity to provide magnetic attraction therebetween. In this manner, the closure system resists unintended separation.

Abstract: Medical devices having a wettable, biocompatible surface are described herein. Processes for producing such devices are also described.

Abstract: A method for preparing and resulting articles of manufacture comprising a substrate having a surface, a bulk beneath the surface, and a grafted polymer layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface and the grafted polymer layer, in combination, constituting a modified surface having a fibrinogen adsorption of less than about 125 ng/cm2 in a fibrinogen binding assay in which the modified surface is incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. in 70 ?g/mL fibrinogen derived from human plasma containing 1.4 ?g/mL I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to articles of manufacture, such as medical devices, having a non-fouling surface comprising a grafted polymer material. The surface resists the adhesion of biological material.

Abstract: A method for preparing and resulting articles of manufacture comprising a substrate having a surface, a bulk beneath the surface, and a grafted polymer layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface and the grafted polymer layer, in combination, constituting a modified surface having a fibrinogen adsorption of less than about 125 ng/cm2 in a fibrinogen binding assay in which the modified surface is incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. in 70 ?g/mL fibrinogen derived from human plasma containing 1.4 ?g/mL I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen.

Abstract: Processes are described herein for preparing medical devices and other articles having a low-fouling surface on a substrate comprising a polymeric surface. The polymeric surface material may possess a range of polymeric backbones and substituents while providing the articles with a highly efficient, biocompatible, and non-fouling surface. The processes involve treating the substrate to reduce the concentration of chemical species on the surface of or in the substrate without altering the bulk physical properties of the device or article, and thereafter forming a grafted polymer layer on the treated substrate surface.

Abstract: Processes are described herein for preparing medical devices and other articles having a low-fouling surface on a substrate comprising a polymeric surface. The polymeric surface material may possess a range of polymeric backbones and substituents while providing the articles with a highly efficient, biocompatible, and non-fouling surface. The processes involve treating the substrate to reduce the concentration of chemical species on the surface of or in the substrate without altering the bulk physical properties of the device or article, and thereafter forming a grafted polymer layer on the treated substrate surface.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to articles of manufacture, such as medical devices, having a non-fouling surface comprising a grafted polymer material. The surface resists the adhesion of biological material.

Abstract: A method for preparing and resulting articles of manufacture comprising a substrate having a surface, a bulk beneath the surface, and a grafted polymer layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface and the grafted polymer layer, in combination, constituting a modified surface having a fibrinogen adsorption of less than about 125 ng/cm2 in a fibrinogen binding assay in which the modified surface is incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. in 70 ?g/mL fibrinogen derived from human plasma containing 1.4 ?g/mL I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen.

Abstract: Gel-forming macromers including at least four polymeric blocks, at least two of which are hydrophobic and at least one of which is hydrophilic, and including a crosslinkable group are provided. The macromers can be covalently crosslinked to form a gel on a tissue surface in vivo. The gels formed from the macromers have a combination of properties including thermosensitivity and lipophilicity, and are useful in a variety of medical applications including drug delivery and tissue coating.