Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes 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.

Abstract: A catheter may include a tubular member having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament configured to retract the sleeve into the retracted configuration. The catheter may include an aperture proximal of a distal end, where the filament extends through the aperture from the lumen. A pull member may be on a distal end of the filament. The filament may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter when the sleeve is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve, where the shuttle includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve, and the filament engages the shuttle to retract the sleeve into the lumen.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A catheter may include a tubular member having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament configured to retract the sleeve into the retracted configuration. The catheter may include an aperture proximal of a distal end, where the filament extends through the aperture from the lumen. A pull member may be on a distal end of the filament. The filament may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter when the sleeve is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve, where the shuttle includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve, and the filament engages the shuttle to retract the sleeve into the lumen.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A catheter (700) includes a tubular member (702) having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve (704) configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament (700) configured to retract the sleeve (702) into the retracted configuration. The catheter includes an aperture (774) proximal of a distal end, where the filament (770) extends through the aperture (774) from the lumen. A pull member (772) may be on a distal end of the filament (770). The filament (770) may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter (700) when the sleeve (704) is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle (718) may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve (704), where the shuttle (718) includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve (704), and the filament (770) engages the shuttle (718) to retract the sleeve (704) into the lumen.

Abstract: A method of producing a ready-to-use medical device with a functional coating includes the steps of bringing the medical device, at least with its functional coating, in contact with a composition which prevents or retards degradation of the functional coating and sterilizing the medical device and the composition via radiation. A method leads to an improved product, namely an improved ready-to-use medical device which does not suffer a loss of quality during sterilization and storage. The composition comprises carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof and/or an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A ready to use catheter assembly comprises a catheter package with an opening, a catheter with a shaft arranged in the catheter package so a distal end of the catheter lies in the region of the opening, and a protective sleeve which partly covers the catheter shaft, a first end of the protective sleeve fixed to the distal end of the catheter. A method for producing a ready to use catheter assembly and a ready to use catheter assembly which further reduces the risk of an accidental contamination of a catheter when pulling it out of the catheter package prior to the insertion into the urethra of a user are provided. The opening has a defined maximum opening length, a second end of the protective sleeve is releasably connected which the catheter package near the maximum opening length of the opening and the protective sleeve is in a retracted state.

Abstract: A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes 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.

Abstract: A catheter may include a tubular member having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament configured to retract the sleeve into the retracted configuration. The catheter may include an aperture proximal of a distal end, where the filament extends through the aperture from the lumen. A pull member may be on a distal end of the filament. The filament may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter when the sleeve is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve, where the shuttle includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve, and the filament engages the shuttle to retract the sleeve into the lumen.

Abstract: A foldable urinary catheter is provided for draining the human bladder defining an internal flow path for the urine, with a catheter tube for insertion into the urethra, the catheter tube comprising at least one hinge which is conceived to bring the catheter in a folded, compact storage condition and an unfolded, straight ready-for-use condition as well as to a foldable urinary catheter kit. A foldable urinary catheter and a foldable urinary catheter kit are provided which are very small and compact in a transport or storage condition and which provide a long insertable length of the catheter tube. Therefore, the at least one hinge in the catheter tube is provided in the insertable length of the catheter tube and is configured for stabilizing the ready-for-use condition. The kit comprises the foldable urinary catheter and a catheter package which tightly surrounds the folded catheter.

Abstract: A foldable urinary catheter is provided for draining the human bladder defining an internal flow path for urine, with a catheter tube for insertion into the urethra, the catheter tube having at least one hinge which can enable the catheter into a folded, compact storage condition and an unfolded, straight ready-for-use condition as well as to a foldable urinary catheter kit. A foldable urinary catheter and a foldable urinary catheter kit are provided which are very small and compact in a transport or storage condition and which provide a long insertable length of the catheter tube. The hinge in the catheter tube is provided in the insertable length of the catheter tube and is configured for stabilizing the ready-for-use condition. The kit includes the foldable urinary catheter and a catheter package which tightly surrounds the folded catheter.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly and a ready-to-use catheter are provided, which avoids any degradation of the catheter during sterilization. The method comprises: placing a catheter with a hydrophilic coating and a wetting fluid in a catheter package made of low moisture transmission material while the package is in a first condition wherein an insertable length of the hydrophilic coating of the catheter is not in contact with the wetting fluid, sterilizing the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting fluid by radiation sterilization while the catheter package is kept in a condition in which the insertable length is not in contact with the wetting fluid, transferring the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting fluid into a second condition, bringing the wetting fluid into contact with at least the insertable length and activating the insertable length via gravity and/or via inertia.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly and a ready-to-use catheter are provided, which avoids any degradation of the catheter during sterilization. The method comprises: placing a catheter with a hydrophilic coating and a wetting fluid in a catheter package made of low moisture transmission material while the package is in a first condition wherein an insertable length of the hydrophilic coating of the catheter is not in contact with the wetting fluid, sterilizing the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting fluid by radiation sterilization while the catheter package is kept in a condition in which the insertable length is not in contact with the wetting fluid, transferring the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting fluid into a second condition, bringing the wetting fluid into contact with at least the insertable length and activating the insertable length via gravity and/or via inertia.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A ready to use catheter assembly comprises a catheter package with an opening, a catheter with a shaft arranged in the catheter package so a distal end of the catheter lies in the region of the opening, and a protective sleeve which partly covers the catheter shaft, a first end of the protective sleeve fixed to the distal end of the catheter. A method for producing a ready to use catheter assembly and a ready to use catheter assembly which further reduces the risk of an accidental contamination of a catheter when pulling it out of the catheter package prior to the insertion into the urethra of a user are provided. The opening has a defined maximum opening length, a second end of the protective sleeve is releasably connected which the catheter package near the maximum opening length of the opening and the protective sleeve is in a retracted state.