Abstract: An occlusion resistant medical shunt, particularly a hydrocephalic shunt, is provided for implantation into a mammal. The shunt has an elongate wall structure configured as a tube having a lumen therethrough and a proximal end for receipt of bodily fluids. The bodily fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, flows through the shunt to a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids. The wall structure of the shunt generally includes a biocompatible medical device material. The shunts of the present invention further include one or more occlusion resistant materials to resist occlusion of the lumenal passage in the shunt.

Abstract: The present invention provides delivery systems for and methods of delivering ion channel protein genetic material to cardiac cells in areas adjacent to where an electrode is to be positioned in a patient's heart to improve or correct the signal to noise ratio of cardiac signals, such as the P-wave. More specifically, there is provided a system and method for delivering sodium ion channel proteins or nucleic acid molecules encoding sodium ion channel proteins to a site in the heart adjacent to an electrode to increase the expression of the same, thereby enhancing the cardiac signal amplitude and enabling improved sensing of cardiac signals by an implanted pacemaker.

Abstract: Provided are novel stimulatory device for the controlled production of angiogenic growth factors. More specifically, a subthreshold pulse generator is used for the local production of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Abstract: The present invention provides delivery systems for and methods of delivering ion channel protein genetic material to cardiac cells in areas adjacent to where an electrode is to be positioned in a patient's heart to improve or correct the signal to noise ratio of cardiac signals, such as the P-wave. More specifically, there is provided a system and method for delivering sodium ion channel proteins or nucleic acid molecules encoding sodium ion channel proteins to a site in the heart adjacent to an electrode to increase the expression of the same, thereby enhancing the cardiac signal amplitude and enabling improved sensing of cardiac signals by an implanted pacemaker.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a coating of an immobilized biomolecule on a surface of a medical device to impart improved biocompatibility for contacting tissue and bodily fluids. A biomolecule such as a glycoprotein having an unsubstituted amide moiety is combined with an amine forming agent to form an amine-functional biomolecule. The amine-functional biomolecule is combined with a medical device surface having a chemical moiety such as aldehyde, epoxide, isocyanate, 1,2-dicarbonyl, phosphate, sulphate or carboxylate to form a chemical bond immobilizing the biomolecule on the surface. The chemical bond may be combined with a reducing agent or a stabilizing agent. The aldehyde moiety may be formed by combining a periodate with a 2-aminoalcohol moiety or a 1,2-dihydroxy moiety. Alternatively, an amine-functional medical device surface is combined with a biomolecule having a chemical moiety that reacts with an amine moiety.

Abstract: Symmetric and asymmetric cyclic silalkylenesiloxane monomers and copolymers thereof, as well as crosslinked and/or reinforced silalkylenesiloxane copolymers, medical devices containing such materials, and methods of preparation.