Abstract: By the invention a dental interproximal cleaning device is provided including a handle and a holder, the handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the holder having a base joined to the distal end and a bifurcation forming two branches and a cleaning element extending between the branches of the bifurcation. The cleaning element has a thread element and a brush element, the thread element having a length corresponding at least to the transversal dimension of a tooth or to the transversal dimension of a contact surface between said tooth and an adjacent tooth, and the brush element having a length at least corresponding to one half of the length of the thread element.

Abstract: A hydrophilic coating having a covalently cross-linked hydrophilic polymer suitable for coating medical devices or instruments for introduction into human cavities, the coating further having a water soluble compound, the water soluble compound being glucose, sorbitol a halide, nitrate, acetate, citrate or benzoate of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or silver; acetic acid, glycine or urea. A medical device or instrument for introduction into human cavities having a hydrophilic coating and a method of producing such a medical device or instrument.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a package comprising a packing means holding a medical device element of a substrate polymer, said substrate polymer having on at least a part of the surface thereof a hydrophilic coating, wherein the hydrophilic coating has been applied to the surface of said substrate polymer in the form of a solution of a hydrophilic polymer selected from the groups consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene oxide in a vehicle comprising an optionally substituted 1,3-dioxolane compound, followed by evaporation of at least part of the vehicle and arranging said medical device element having the coating of the non-cross-linked hydrophilic polymer within a packing means, and sealing said packing means.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising one or more hydrogel-forming hydrophilic homopolymers or heteropolymers and one or more amphiphilic block-copolymers comprising hydrophobic polymer blocks being incompatible and hydrophilic polymer blocks is useful, for example, in transdermal drug delivery systems and other medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products that adhere to the skin or other body surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of a cross-linked hydrophilic coating of a hydrophilic polymer on a substrate polymer surface of a medical device, involving the use of a polymer solution comprising 1-20% by weight of a hydrophilic polymer, 0-5% by weight of additive(s), and the balance of a vehicle with plasticizing effect on the hydrophilic polymer, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one plasticizer having a solubility in water of at least 6 g/L, a boiling point above 210° C. at 760 mmHg, and Hansen ?H parameter of less than 20. Furthermore, the invention provides a medical device, e.g. a catheter or guide wire, provided with such a hydrophilic coating. The invention also provides the use of specific polymer solution for the preparation of a cross-linked hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A method of preparation of a cross-linked hydrogel by graft copolymerisation, said method comprises the steps of preparing an aqueous solution comprising one or more hydrophilic polymers, a cross-linking agent and a photoinitiator comprising a water-soluble peroxydisulphate, subjecting said solution to irradiation and obtaining the cross-linked hydrogel, wherein the hydrophilic polymers are saturated and the cross-linking agent acts as a co-catalyst of cross-linking. The hydrogel is fast to produce and has low toxicity. The hydrogel may be suitable for use in medical devices such as dressings and the like.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing a medical device comprising a hydrophilic coating using radiation said method comprising the steps of bringing the medical device having such coating in contact with an aqueous liquid for wetting the hydrophilic coating, said liquid comprising a solution of a hydrophilic polymer and sterilizing the device by applying a sufficient amount of radiation provides coated devices showing a significantly increased and prolonged water retention and lower friction coefficient when wet.