Abstract: The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising (i) a base coat layer having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface of the base coat layer contacting the implantable medical device; (ii) a top-coat layer of a hydrophilic polymer chemically crosslinked and covalently bonded to the outer surface of the base coat layer, the hydrophilic polymer comprising an anionic polyelectrolyte; and (iii) an amount of a hydrophilic cationic drug agent added to the top-coat layer sufficient to provide an effective dosage of the drug agent for delivery to a patient, whereby the hydrophilic cationic drug agent is initially adsorbed into the anionic polyelectrolyte of the top-coat layer and the hydrophilic cationic drug agent having a release rate after the medical device is implanted within a patient's body.

Abstract: A method for coating the lumen of a tube comprises the steps of inserting the distal opening of a tube into a first coating solution, drawing the first coating solution into the lumen of the tube, draining the first coating solution from the lumen leaving a film of the first coating solution on the lumen of the tube, and curing the first coating solution. This leaves a first coating on the lumen of the tube. A coating apparatus comprises a pallet, and one or more dip funnels. The pallet comprises a manifold and is configured to fluidically connect the manifold to one or more tubes. The one or more dip funnels are configured to hold a coating solution and are located below the pallet so that when the pallet is moved vertically, the one or more tubes are inserted into the dip funnels.

Abstract: The invention concerns coating compositions for medical devices or medical implants comprising a polymer which is soluble in water or water-alcohol solutions, the polymer made from monomers comprising: (a) at least one monomer that is a photo radical generator, and (b) at least one monomer comprising one or both of (i) ethylenic monomers comprising at least one acidic group and (ii) one or more of acrylates or acrylamides; wherein the molar ratio of one or both of (i) ethylenic monomers comprising at least one acidic group and (ii) one or more of acrylates or acrylamides to photo radical generator group is 20:1 to 500:1.

Abstract: The invention concerns coating composition comprising hydrophobic polymer for use as a photoreactive basecoat for a medical device or implant comprising a polymer made from monomers comprising: (a) 1 to 12 mol % of at least one photoactive monomer that is a hydrogen atom abstracter and (b) 99 to 88 mol % of one or more of acrylamides, methacrylamides, acrylates, methacrylates, and N-vinylpyrrolidone; wherein the polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 40° C.

Abstract: A hydrophilic copolymer is designed and synthesized by copolymerization of an acidic monomer and a second hydrophilic monomer. The copolymer is non-thrombogenic, hydrophilic and incorporates reactive functional groups. The copolymer can then be covalently attached to a primer/base coat through its functional groups, to form a durable lubricious coating on medical devices. A coating formed of the polymer on a surface is non-thrombogenic and non-cytotoxic. The coating shows good stability in gamma ray, e-beam and ethylene oxide sterilization.

Abstract: Biocompatible, lubricious, highly durable coatings for medical devices are formed from a highly adherent base-coat and a hydrophilic top-coat that is chemically grafted to the base-coat and has a chemically cross-linked structure. The base-coat constitutes a carboxylic acid containing polymer. The top-coat includes a carboxylic acid containing hydrophilic polymer and chromium (III) ion as the cross-linking agent. The coating possesses biocompatibility and gamma ray-sterilization stability. The coated products in aqueous media display an unmatched combination of lubricity, abrasion resistance, and chemical stability.

Abstract: An insertion device for an intra-ocular lens (IOL) has a bilaminar, lubricious coating on the surface which contacts the IOL as it is being inserted into the eye. The bilaminar coating includes a highly lubricious top coat, and a polymeric base coat which is both highly adherent to the surface of the insertion device, and which has functional groups capable of grafting the base coat to the top coat. In its completed form, the bilaminar coating is essentially permanent, and exceedingly lubricious when wet, allowing the IOL to be advanced smoothly and without damage through the insertion device. The top coat may include hyaluronan, or another material capable of providing the required lubricity.

Abstract: An article including a surface having a coating thereon, in which the coating includes a base coat, firmly adhered to the surface, and a hydrophilic, biocompatible top-coat. An antibiotic ceramic component is dispersed in one or both of the base coat and top-coat. Preferably, the ceramic component is dispersed in the base coat. In a preferred embodiment, the ceramic component is a zeolite with silver ions exchanged onto internal acidic sites of the zeolite, and the top-coat includes a polysaccharide, such as hyaluronan. The zeolite is highly effective in imparting anti-microbial character to the coating.

Abstract: Biocompatible, lubricious, highly durable coatings for medical devices are formed from a highly adherent base coat and a hydrophilic top-coat which is chemically grafted to the base coat. The base coat includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer, having one or more monomers having alkyl groups of varying number. The monomers are combined such that the “Equivalent Alkyl Number”, essentially a weighted average number of carbon atoms, for the resulting polymer or copolymer, is in a range of about 3.5-4.5. The coating is prepared without using any organic solvents, and thus the final product contains no residue of such solvents. The coated products display an unmatched combination of adhesion, abrasion resistance, water resistance, biocompatibility, and lubricity.

Abstract: Biocompatible, lubricious, highly durable coatings for medical devices are formed from a highly adherent base coat and a hydrophilic top-coat which is chemically grafted to the base coat. The base coat includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer, having one or more monomers having alkyl groups of varying number. The monomers are combined such that the “Equivalent Alkyl Number”, essentially a weighted average number of carbon atoms, for the resulting polymer or copolymer, is in a range of about 3.5-4.5. The coating is prepared without using any organic solvents, and thus the final product contains no residue of such solvents. The coated products display an unmatched combination of adhesion, abrasion resistance, water resistance, biocompatibility, and lubricity.

Abstract: An article including a surface having a coating thereon, in which the coating includes a base coat, firmly adhered to the surface, and a hydrophilic, biocompatible top-coat. An antibiotic ceramic component is dispersed in one or both of the base coat and top-coat. Preferably, the ceramic component is dispersed in the base coat. In a preferred embodiment, the ceramic component is a zeolite with silver ions exchanged onto internal acidic sites of the zeolite, and the top-coat includes a polysaccharide, such as hyaluronan. The zeolite is highly effective in imparting anti-microbial character to the coating.

Abstract: A substrate is rendered highly lubricious and wettable, by treating the substrate so that it becomes amine-functionalized, and chemically joining an aldonic acid to amine groups on the substrate. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical joining is performed with the aid of a coupling agent, such as a water-soluble carbodiimide, the coupling agent participating in the reaction which joins the aldonic acid to the amine groups, and which forms a residue that can be discarded. The coupling agent makes it possible to perform the process at room temperature. The method can be used to coat articles such as contact lenses, intra-ocular lenses, or other devices which are intended to be temporarily or permanently implanted in the body. The method can also be used in other fields, such as in coating of goggles, windshields, and other objects.

Abstract: Articles such as medical devices are selectively coated with a lubricious coating. A temporary coating, formed from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer of low to moderate molecular weight, is painted onto those portions of the article which are to remain free of any coating in the final product. Then, the entire article is coated with a material which forms a lubricious coating. The article is then soaked in water to loosen the coatings at the locations at which the temporary coating was applied. The coatings are cleanly removed from those locations, leaving an article with a lubricious coating in some portions, and which is uncoated in the remaining portions. The process can be used in coating portions of catheters, surgical gloves, contact lenses, and any other articles which require a lubricious coating only on a portion of the surface of the article.

Abstract: A free acid form of a polysaccharide is produced from its alkali-metal salt. In one example, free-form hyaluronic acid is produced by preparing a solution of an alkali-metal salt of hyaluronic acid, dispersing into the solution a strong acid, enclosing the dispersion within a semi-permeable membrane, dialyzing the dispersion in water, and harvesting the product from within the membrane. The strong acid can be hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, orthophosphoric acid, or oxalic acid, for example. The semi-permeable membrane has a molecular weight cut-off large enough to pass the strong acid, and preferably much larger. The invention provides a simple and economical way to produce a product which is not commercially available.