Abstract: Disclosed are a microneedle, an apparatus for manufacturing a microneedle including a support part containing a medicinal solution for coating a microneedle, a controller for controlling the temperature of the medicinal solution contained in the support part, and a dryer for drying the medicinal solution coated on the microneedle, and a method of manufacturing the microneedle using the apparatus. According to the configuration, the temperature of the medicinal solution can be adjusted such that a viscosity suitable for coating with the medicinal solution is maintained, whereby the quality of a microneedle coated with the medicinal solution can be improved, and denaturation of active ingredients in the medicinal solution can be prevented, which causes stability increase.

Abstract: A ceramic body is provided that is suitable for use in dental applications to provide a natural aesthetic appearance. A colorized ceramic body is formed that has at least one color region and a color gradient region. A ceramic body is formed having at least two color regions and a color gradient that forms a transition region between two color regions. A method for making the colorized ceramic body includes unidirectional infiltration of a coloring composition into the ceramic body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an asphalt product. The asphalt product includes an asphalt binder and a bio-oil blend comprising a mixture of a non-hydrogenated bio-oil and a partially hydrogenated bio-oil, where the bio-oil blend is mixed with the asphalt binder to form an asphalt product having a shear stiffness of 0.20 kPa to 11,000 kPa at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 85° C. and/or a viscosity of 0.15 Pa·s to 1.50 Pa·s at a temperature ranging from 120° C. to 165° C. The present invention further relates to methods of producing an asphalt product and methods of applying an asphalt product to a surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes medical devices comprising a bio-corrodible stent member and a graft member. The bio-corrodible stent member can comprise a metal applied directly to the graft member via a vapor deposition process, such as a chemical or physical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A method for coating a surface of a cell culture article includes dissolving a polymer having a covalently attached polypeptide in an aqueous solution to produce a polymer solution. The polymer is formed from monomers selected to form a polymer having a linear backbone, wherein the polymer is crosslink free. The weight percentage of the polypeptide relative to the polymer conjugated to the polypeptide is sufficiently high to render the polymer conjugated to the polypeptide water soluble. The aqueous solution is substantially free of organic solvents. The method further includes (i) disposing the polymer solution on the surface of the cell culture article to produce a coated article; and (ii) subjecting the coated article to sufficient heat or electromagnetic radiation to attach the polymer conjugated to a polypeptide to the surface of the cell culture article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for in situ biomimetic mineralization of polymeric hydrogels, where the incorporated CaP phase can be selectively tuned in chemical composition and morphology to mimic bone and dental mineral. The present invention also relates to a method to coat a substrate with apatite material, the resulting product and the use of the product.

Abstract: A system and method for infusion of active ingredients into a delivery device is disclosed. The active ingredients can be loaded into a variety of oral delivery devices, including but not limited to toothpicks, tongue depressors, ice cream sticks and cocktail stirrers. In an embodiment, these delivery devices might be made from various types of wood, one non-limiting example being birchwood. These oral delivery devices can be used to deliver various of the following active ingredients along with inactive ingredients such as flavor, natural, and/or artificial sweeteners, as well as other items not explicitly shown in this list: nicotine, smoking cessation products, caffeine, tetra hydro cannabinol (hereinafter referred to as THC), cannabidiol (hereinafter referred to as CBD), and dietary supplements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a bone attachment coating to a prosthetic component, the bone attachment coating being formed from a plurality of particles applied to a surface of the prosthetic component. The method comprising: locally exciting the particles so as to increase the kinetic and/or thermal energy of the particles; and applying pressure to the particles by virtue of a press arranged so as to press the particles against the surface of the prosthetic component at an interface between the press and the prosthetic component. The kinetic and/or thermal energy of the particles causes localised heating of the component such that the particles may be embedded into the surface of the prosthetic component.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

Abstract: The invention provides a coating agent for a flow passage which comprises a copolymer containing a recurring unit which contains an organic group of the formula (a) wherein Ua1 and Ua2 are defined herein, and a recurring unit which contains an organic group of the formula (b) wherein Ub1, Ub2, Ub3, and An? are defined herein. The invention also provides a flow passage device having the coating agent for a flow passage on at least part of an inner surface of a flow passage, a platelet-producing flow passage device and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A novel two-step process for batch coating surgical needles with cross-linked silicone coatings is disclosed. The surgical needles are cured using a two-step process. The coatings on the needles are partially cured in the first step and mechanically separated. The coatings on the needles are then fully cured in the second step.

Abstract: A device for passing a biopolymer molecule includes a nanochannel formed between a surface relief structure, a patterned layer forming sidewalls of the nanochannel and a sealing layer formed over the patterned layer to encapsulate the nanochannel. The surface relief structure includes a three-dimensionally rounded surface that reduces a channel dimension of the nanochannel at a portion of nanochannel and gradually increases the dimension along the nanochannel toward an opening position, which is configured to receive a biopolymer.

Abstract: Endoluminal and other as implantable prostheses are fabricated in electrospinning apparatus including a target and an applicator. A solution comprising a polymer and a solvent is directed to the target with a first electrical potential between the target and the applicator to produce a first set of fibers. The same or another solution is continued to be delivered through the applicator onto the target while applying a second electrical potential to produce a second set of fibers having a second solvent fraction, and the same or different solution may be delivered while applying a third potential difference to produce a laminated structure having at least three layers. By properly controlling the electrical potentials and solvent fractions, an adhesive layer can be formed to serve a glue or adhesive between the inner and outer layers, and a stent or other scaffold may be positioned between the inner and outer layers to form a covered stent or graft.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an adhesive system. The system comprises a guest copolymer portion and a host copolymer portion. The guest copolymer portion includes 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA) acting as an adhesive moiety, a recognition molecule and a hydrophobic molecule connecting the adhesive moiety and the recognition molecule. The host copolymer portion includes a macrocyclic host molecule from a host family of supramolecules for specifically binding with the guest copolymer at the recognition molecule, and a polymer with temperature dependent wettability.

Abstract: A coating for a metal surface, the coating including poly(ethylene glycol) disposed on and covalently bonded directly to at least a portion of the metal surface, and a functional group grafted to at least a portion of the poly(ethylene glycol). The functional group is one of a bioactive functional group and an antimicrobial functional group.

Abstract: The present invention provides surface-modified metals such as metal medical devices, e.g., guide wires, syringe needles, and metal tubes in medical devices or equipment, in which a lubricant layer is firmly bonded to the surface to impart lubricity to the surface, and further to improve the durability of the lubricant layer on the surface, thereby reducing deterioration of sliding properties, as well as methods for modifying a metal surface. The present invention relates to a surface-modified metal having a surface at least partially treated by polymerizing a monomer in the presence of a hydrogen abstraction type photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: The drum coater comprises a substantially cylindrical drum (11) with a peripheral wall and a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The method comprises providing a coating zone within the drum, feeding tablets into the drum, spinning the drum containing the tablets at a rotational speed such that a substantially annular bed of tablets is created, providing means for creating a cascade (19) of tablets at least in a part of the coating zone and spraying the tablets in the coating zone.

Abstract: A balloon coating method for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method includes moving a drive shaft relative to at least one of a hub of the balloon catheter and an interlocking member. The drive shaft is configured to rotate the balloon catheter about an axis of the balloon. The method fixing the drive shaft to the proximal end of the hub or to the opening of the interlocking member by frictional force, and applying a coating solution containing the drug to the outer surface of the balloon from a dispensing tube while gradually moving the dispensing tube in the axial direction and simultaneously rotating the drive shaft to rotate the balloon catheter around the axis of the balloon catheter.

Abstract: Methods for improving the antibacterial characteristics of biomedical implants and related implants manufactured according to such methods. In some implementations, a biomedical implant comprising a silicon nitride ceramic material may be subjected to a surface roughening treatment so as to increase a surface roughness of at least a portion of the biomedical implant to a roughness profile having an arithmetic average of at least about 500 nm Ra. In some implementations, a coating may be applied to a biomedical implant. Such a coating may comprise a silicon nitride ceramic material, and may be applied instead of, or in addition to, the surface roughening treatment process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adherent resorbable matrix for use in surgical applications. The adherent resorbable matrix includes a biocompatible adherent material including chitosan.